Hybrid (biology)
In biology a hybrid is an offspring of two animals or plants of different races, breeds, varieties, species, or genera. Using genetics terminology, it may be defined as follows. ▪ In general usage,
hybrid is synonymous with heterozygous: any offspring resulting from the breeding of two genetically distinct individuals ▪ a
genetic hybrid carries two different alleles of the same gene ▪ a
structural hybrid results from the fusion of gametes that have differing structure in at least one chromosome, as a result of structural abnormalities ▪ a
numerical hybrid results from the fusion of gametes having different haploid numbers of chromosomes ▪ a
permanent hybrid is a situation where only the heterozygous genotype occurs, because all homozygous combinations are lethal. From a taxonomic perspective, hybrid refers to: ▪ Offspring resulting from the interbreeding between two animal species or plant species. See also hybrid speciation. ▪ Hybrids between different subspecies within a species are known as
intra-specific hybrids.