Poor definition of "heterozygous"

[pholland]

The definition of heterozygous given here on redtailboa.net is not complete. This is the definition given:

"Heterozygous - the animal carries the gene for a genetic trait but does not outwardly demonstrate the trait.

"Example: A boa that is het for albino looks normal but carries the albino gene. When it is bred to another het for albino boa or an albino boa, a percentage of the offspring will be albino."

This is a better definition:

het·ero·zy·gous: having the two genes at corresponding loci on homologous chromosomes different for one or more loci —compare HOMOZYGOUS. See Merriam-Webster Medical Dictionary entry at Dictionary.com
Please note that there is no requirement for what the het animal looks like. The only requirement is that the two genes be different.

Example 1. A boa that is heterozygous for a recessive mutant gene like albino has an albino mutant gene and a normal version of the gene. The snake looks normal. When it is bred to another het for albino boa or an albino boa, a percentage of the offspring will have two albino genes and be albino.

Example 2. A boa that is heterozygous for a dominant mutant gene like salmon (AKA hypo) has a salmon mutant gene and a normal version of the gene. The snake is salmon rather than normal in appearance. When it is bred to another het for salmon boa or a normal boa, a percentage of the offspring will have two normal genes, making them normal in genes and appearance.

	Heterozygous Heterozygous - the animal carries the gene for a genetic trait but does not outwardly demonstrate the trait. Example: A boa that is het for albino looks normal but carries the albino gene. When it is bred to another het for albino boa or an albino boa, a percentage of the offspring will be albino.

	Hypomelanistic Hypomelanistic - a genetic reduction in the dark pigment Melanin.

[CruiserMaiden]

I believe the basic description offered when someone hovers over a link is meant to just be a general overview of the term, to give someone an idea as to what people are talking about if they have no clue while surfing the forums. I have noticed this feature also allows for linking to another page, "het" currently links to the main rtb page, perhaps we could leave the current description in place and then use this link to go to a wordier, more scientific definition?

[boafiend]

the rtb definition is like what cruiser maiden said....its for people that come on here and dont have a degree in genetics

[JuliusSqueezer]

While slightly simplified, the original definition is accurate. I'm not sure who wrote it but I'm relieved to see that it wasn't a copy paste. Plagiarism is illegal. I find no fault in someone putting a definition in their own words and I am more impressed with someone who can simplify it a bit to make it easier to understand for a broader audience than this concept that all definitions should be from a single source verbatim with no regard for the layperson trying to learn. The object of even having the definition in this media is so that laypeople can get an idea. It's not there to prove how smart we are by wording everything scientific. Scientific language is confusing to a great many of our readers and so by overusing it, the whole purpose of having a mouse over quick definition system would be pointless. Anyone who can understand scientific verbage likely already has at least a basic idea of what heterozygous means. So, if our basic-simple definitions are insulting to your intelligence, please keep in mind that perhaps they aren't there for you but for someone with a lesser scientific background. If you happen to spot anything that is wrong though, PLEASE by all means let us know.

[BWSmith]

Your welcome.

[Slithers]

Originally Posted by pholland

"Heterozygous - the animal carries the gene for a genetic trait but does not outwardly demonstrate the trait.

Example 2. A boa that is heterozygous for a dominant mutant gene like salmon (AKA hypo) has a salmon mutant gene and a normal version of the gene. The snake is salmon rather than normal in appearance. When it is bred to another het for salmon boa or a normal boa, a percentage of the offspring will have two normal genes, making them normal in genes and appearance.

umm guys, I think he was pointing out the fact that some het's DO 'outwardly demonstrate the trait.' Our definition states that hets do not outwardly demonstrate the trait, but with dominant and co-dominant genetics...hets DO outwardly demonstrate the trait.

The definition we have is only reflective of recessive genetics...

This isnt the first time this has caused confusion...

	Heterozygous Heterozygous - the animal carries the gene for a genetic trait but does not outwardly demonstrate the trait. Example: A boa that is het for albino looks normal but carries the albino gene. When it is bred to another het for albino boa or an albino boa, a percentage of the offspring will be albino.

	Hypomelanistic Hypomelanistic - a genetic reduction in the dark pigment Melanin.

[RevMojo]

How 'bout we change it to "...but does not necessarily outwardly demonstrate..."

It's still clear, but allows for codominance.