Hybrid

A hybrid is an organism produced by crossing individuals from genetically distinct populations, varieties, or species. Its traits and fertility depend on the parents and their genetic compatibility.

Heterosis: The increased performance of some hybrid offspring compared with their parents for traits such as growth or fertility. Hybrid vigor is one possible outcome of combining genetic variation from distinct parental lines.
Genetic variation: Differences in DNA sequence or chromosome structure among individuals or populations. Hybridization combines inherited variants from genetically distinct parents.
Hybrid crop: A crop grown from offspring of genetically distinct plant lines, often produced through controlled crosses. Crop breeders use hybrid offspring to combine traits such as yield and disease resistance.
Purebred: An organism descended from a recognized line or breed through controlled reproduction. Purebred lines are often crossed to produce hybrids with combined traits.
Hybrid sterility: The inability of a hybrid organism to produce functional offspring through sexual reproduction. Chromosome differences can disrupt gamete formation and make hybrids infertile.
Population genetics: The study of genetic variation and its change within and among populations. It provides the framework for describing parental populations and gene flow through hybrids.
Heterosis breeding: A breeding strategy that exploits superior performance in offspring from crosses between selected parental lines. It deliberately produces hybrids to capture heterosis in agricultural traits.
Inbreeding: Reproduction between genetically related individuals, increasing the chance that offspring inherit matching alleles. Unlike hybridization, inbreeding increases genetic similarity between parents.
Chromosomal speciation: The formation of reproductively isolated populations through changes in chromosome structure or number. Chromosome rearrangements can reduce fertility when hybrids mate with either parental population.
Allele: One of two or more alternative forms of a gene at a particular genomic location. Hybrids inherit alleles from both parents, producing new combinations.

Linked from 7 pages