heterosis
Crossbreeding boosts offspring
Heterosis is the tendency of crossbred offspring to show greater vigor, size, or fertility than their parents—the opposite of inbreeding depression.
Also called hybrid vigor.
Plant and animal breeders exploit heterosis to produce hardier crops and livestock: The heterosis from crossing these two corn lines increased yield by twenty percent.
Mixing distinct genetic lines
- matingReproductive pairing behavior
- pollinationFlower reproductive transfer
- progenyOne's biological descendants
- offspringBiological descendants produced
inbreeding · linebreeding · sire · dam · stud · purebred · germplasm · artificial insemination
Active physical strength
- robustnessResistance to failure
- growth rateSpeed of increase
- productivityOutput relative to input
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
fitness · survivability · adaptability · disease resistance · stress tolerance · biomass · fertility · longevity
Variant forms of genes
- genotypeOrganism's complete allele set
- phenotypeObservable characteristics of organism
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
- recessiveMasked unless paired identically
loci · inheritance · recombination · mutation · gene pool · chromosomes · DNA · heritability
Produce or relinquish
- harvestGathering mature crops
- plant breedingDeveloping improved crop varieties
- livestockDomesticated farm animals
- poultryBirds raised for food
dairy cattle · sorghum · wheat · sunflower · aquaculture · silage · feedlot · green revolution
hybridization
Mixing distinct genetic lines
- matingReproductive pairing behavior
- pollinationFlower reproductive transfer
- progenyOne's biological descendants
offspring · inbreeding · linebreeding · sire · dam · stud · purebred · germplasm · artificial insemination · selective breeding
vigor
Active physical strength
- robustnessResistance to failure
- growth rateSpeed of increase
- productivityOutput relative to input
resilience · fitness · survivability · adaptability · disease resistance · stress tolerance · biomass · fertility · longevity · uniformity
alleles
Variant forms of genes
- genotypeOrganism's complete allele set
- phenotypeObservable characteristics of organism
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
recessive · loci · inheritance · recombination · mutation · gene pool · chromosomes · DNA · heritability · polygenic
yield
Produce or relinquish
- harvestGathering mature crops
- plant breedingDeveloping improved crop varieties
- livestockDomesticated farm animals
poultry · dairy cattle · sorghum · wheat · sunflower · aquaculture · silage · feedlot · green revolution