heterosis

American  

[het-uh-roh-sis] / ˌhɛt əˈroʊ sɪs /

noun

Genetics.

1. the increase in growth, size, fecundity, function, yield, or other characters in hybrids over those of the parents.

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heterosis British  

/ ˌhɛtəˈrəʊsɪs /

noun

1. biology another name for hybrid vigour

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Etymology

Origin of heterosis

First recorded in 1910–15, heterosis is from the Late Greek word hetérōsis an alteration. See hetero-, -sis

Explanation

One of the reasons farmers have always crossbred animals or plants of different varieties is heterosis, the tendency for the resulting offspring to be better than either of its parents in some way. Heterosis, also known as hybrid vigor, is a key factor in modern agriculture and animal breeding. Perhaps a crossbred plant can withstand drought better, or maybe it bears more fruit per plant. Maybe a crossbred animal is stronger and can pull heavier loads, or perhaps it doesn't get sick as easily. Crossbreeding is how we've produced more resilient varieties of wheat, and it's how we got the popular Labradoodle dog, which has a low-shedding coat (and a high adorability factor).

Example Sentences

However, the heterosis effect no longer persists in the subsequent generations of these hybrids due to the segregation of genetic information.

From Science Daily • May 13, 2024

But the neat, perfectly formed, soft-domed roses also remind me of hybrid vigor, or heterosis, a term used in genetics.

From The New Yorker • Dec. 3, 2014

In addition to allelic variation, the variation in gene content may contribute to heterosis, as has been suggested for maize.

From Nature • Jan. 22, 2014

They benefit from heterosis and usually remain in production a long time.

From Time Magazine Archive

This is a manifestation of hybrid vigor, or heterosis.

From Northern Nut Growers Association Incorporated 39th Annual Report at Norris, Tenn. September 13-15 1948 by Northern Nut Growers Association