noun
- the condition or property of producing two different types of gametes, especially with respect to sex chromosomes.
Usage: biology; genetics
Examples
- In mammals, males exhibit heterogamety because they produce both X and Y sperm.
- The heterogamety of the male parent determines the sex of the offspring in many species.
- Birds show a different pattern of heterogamety compared to mammals, with females being the heterogametic sex.
- Heterogamety is a key mechanism in sexual reproduction that generates genetic diversity.
- Understanding heterogamety is essential for studying inheritance patterns in genetics.