Definition

A type of nucleic acid made up of two strands that come from different parent molecules.

Example

The researchers studied the heteroduplex formed during the DNA recombination process.

Conversation

Have you heard about the concept of a heteroduplex in genetics?

Yeah, I read about it recently; it's pretty fascinating!

Right? It's interesting how it involves two different parent molecules.

Absolutely, it really shows how complex DNA can be.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Heteroduplex → It is formed from "hetero-" (from Greek "heteros", meaning different) and "duplex" (from Latin "duplex", meaning twofold or double). The word describes a structure that consists of two different strands, particularly in the context of DNA or RNA.

Memory Tip

Think of 'different' ('hetero-') strands coming together to form a 'double' ('duplex') structure — that's what heteroduplex means.

Visually Confused Words