Zygosity

Zygosity

Zygosity (/zaɪˈɡɒsɪti/) refers to the degree of similarity of the alleles for a trait in an organism.

Etymology

The term "zygosity" is derived from the Greek word "zygon", meaning "yoke". It was first used in the context of genetics in the early 20th century.

Types of Zygosity

Zygosity is of three types: Homozygous, Heterozygous, and Hemizygous.

• Homozygous refers to having two identical alleles for a particular gene.
• Heterozygous refers to having two different alleles for a particular gene.
• Hemizygous refers to having only a single copy of a gene instead of the customary two copies.

Determination of Zygosity

Zygosity is determined by the genotype, which is the set of genes in an organism's DNA responsible for a particular trait. The genotype can be determined through various methods, including DNA sequencing and genetic testing.

Related Terms

• Allele
• Genotype
• Phenotype
• DNA sequencing
• Genetic testing

See Also

• Genetics
• Molecular biology
• Genomics

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Zygosity
• Wikipedia's article - Zygosity

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