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Definition

adjective

(1) Of, or pertaining to an individual (or a condition in a cell or an organism) containing two different alleles for a particular trait.

(2) Having dissimilar alleles that code for the same gene or trait.

Supplement

Example: a zygote having one dominant allele and one recessive allele, i.e. Aa, for a particular trait.

Word origin: G. héteros the other of two, other, different + zygous, which pertains to a zygote.

Related forms: heterozygosity (noun).
Related phrases: heterozygous recessive, heterozygous dominant.

Compare: homozygous.
See also: allele.