Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
hemizygous
Adjective
/ˌhɛm.ɪˈzaɪ.ɡəs/
Definition
Having only one allele for a particular gene instead of the usual two.
Examples
- A male fruit fly is hemizygous for the gene affecting eye color, as he has only one X chromosome.
- Because of his hemizygous condition, any recessive allele on the X chromosome will be expressed in his phenotype.
Meaning
In genetics, hemizygous refers to an organism having only a single copy of a gene instead of the typical pair. This is often applicable to genes located on the X chromosome in males, who have one X and one Y chromosome, making them hemizygous for X-linked genes.
Synonyms
- Single allele
- Hemizygote
- Monoallelic
