Definition

Referring to a genetic condition where an individual has two identical alleles for a specific gene on both homologous chromosomes.

Example

The plant is homozygous for the trait, meaning it has two identical genes for that characteristic.

Conversation

Have you heard about the homozygous genes in plants?

Yeah, I read that they can affect how traits are expressed.

It's interesting how being homozygous can lead to more uniform characteristics.

Absolutely! It’s fascinating how genetics work like that.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Homozygous → It is formed from "homo-" (from Greek "homos", meaning same) and "zygous" (from Greek "zygon", meaning yoke or joined). The word "homozygous" refers to having two identical alleles for a particular gene, thus being 'joined' in the same way.

Memory Tip

Think of 'same' ('homo-') and 'joined' ('zygous') to remember that 'homozygous' means having identical pairs.

Visually Confused Words