Glossary

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Heterozygous

Having different alleles at a genetic locus

Chromosomes are present in pairs (diploid) in the body cells of all higher animals and many plants; one chromosome is derived from the father and the other from the mother.

A diploid organism (one with a double set of chromosomes) is said to be heterozygous if it possesses two different forms, or alleles, of a gene for a particular trait.

One of the two alleles may be dominant in terms of the inherited trait, or a hybrid may be produced as in flower colour for example: cross-pollination between a plant with red flowers and a plant with white flowers may produce offspring with pink flowers.