hemizygote: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “hemizygote” mean?
An individual organism that has only one allele of a particular gene or genes in a chromosome pair, typically because the corresponding allele is missing on the homologous chromosome.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An individual organism that has only one allele of a particular gene or genes in a chromosome pair, typically because the corresponding allele is missing on the homologous chromosome.
In genetics, a hemizygote describes the state of having a single copy of a gene in a diploid organism, most commonly referring to genes on the X chromosome in males (XY) or in individuals with certain chromosomal deletions. The term can also apply to any genomic region present in only one copy.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling follows standard national conventions (e.g., British 'haemizygote' is an accepted variant, though 'hemizygote' is more common internationally).
Connotations
None beyond the strict scientific definition.
Frequency
Equally rare and technical in both varieties. The spelling with 'ae' (haemizygote) is slightly more common in British journals but the 'e' form dominates globally.
Grammar
How to Use “hemizygote” in a Sentence
[individual/organism/cell] is a hemizygote for [gene name][gene name] is hemizygous in [individual]the hemizygote state of [gene/locus]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hemizygote” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The region was hemizygous due to a chromosomal deletion.
- Males are hemizygous for X-linked genes.
American English
- The region was hemizygous due to a chromosomal deletion.
- Males are hemizygous for X-linked genes.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Never used.
Academic
Exclusively used in genetics, genomics, and evolutionary biology research papers, textbooks, and lectures.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Core term in technical genetics for describing gene dosage, inheritance patterns (especially X-linked), and the effects of deletions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hemizygote”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hemizygote”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hemizygote”
- Mispronouncing it as 'hemi-zy-goat'.
- Using it to describe a general lack of genes rather than a specific locus.
- Confusing 'hemizygous' (adjective) with 'hemizygote' (noun).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but only for genes on the X chromosome (and the Y chromosome). For autosomal genes, males are diploid (have two copies).
Yes, but it is less common. A female can be a hemizygote for a specific gene if she has a deletion on one of her X chromosomes or on an autosome, leaving only one functional copy.
'Hemizygous' is an adjective describing the genetic state (e.g., a hemizygous locus). 'Hemizygote' is a noun referring to the individual organism that is in that state for a given gene.
It is crucial for understanding X-linked inheritance patterns (like colour blindness), the phenotypic expression of recessive alleles in males, and the impact of gene dosage from chromosomal deletions.
An individual organism that has only one allele of a particular gene or genes in a chromosome pair, typically because the corresponding allele is missing on the homologous chromosome.
Hemizygote is usually technical/scientific in register.
Hemizygote: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhɛmɪˈzaɪɡəʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhɛmɪˈzaɪɡoʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'HEMI' (half, as in hemisphere) + 'ZYGOTE' (fertilised cell). A hemizygote has only half the usual gene pair for a specific location.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SINGLE-COPIES FILE IN A TWO-DRAWER CABINET. One drawer (chromosome) is empty for that file (gene), so you only have the single copy from the other drawer.
Practice
Quiz
What is the best definition of a hemizygote?