heterosis
|het-er-o-sis|
C1
🇺🇸
/ˌhɛtəˈroʊsɪs/
🇬🇧
/ˌhɛtəˈrəʊsɪs/
hybrid vigor
Etymology
Etymology Information
'heterosis' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'heterōsis,' where 'hetero-' meant 'different' and '-osis' indicated a process or condition.
Historical Evolution
'heterōsis' transformed into the modern English word 'heterosis' through scientific terminology adoption.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'a process of becoming different,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'hybrid vigor.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the phenomenon where the offspring of two different varieties or species exhibit greater biomass, speed of development, and fertility than both parents.
The hybrid corn showed significant heterosis, resulting in a higher yield.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45