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Definition

noun

(1) The similarity or dissimilarity of the DNA sequences in specific coding segments, or genes, on the homologous chromosomes of a zygote, or fertilized egg.

(2) A description of whether those two alleles have identical DNA sequence or different DNA sequences.

Supplement

A cell or an individual may be classified based on zygosity:

• homozgygote or a homozygous organism
• heterozygote or a heterozygous organism
• hemizygote or a hemizygous organism
• nullizygote or a nullizygous organism