adjective
- capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring; able to reproduce together across species or populations
Usage: biology; technical
Examples
- Lions and tigers are not intersterile; their hybrid offspring, ligers, are typically sterile.
- Some closely related plant species remain intersterile despite their genetic similarity.
- The two populations were found to be intersterile, suggesting they could produce viable offspring together.
- Researchers tested whether the subspecies were intersterile by attempting controlled breeding.
- Intersterile organisms can exchange genetic material through reproduction, unlike completely isolated species.