Heterozygous Homozygous

Heterozygous and homozygous are not terpenes, but rather genetic terms describing allele pairing at a single locus. In cannabis breeding, these concepts are fundamental to understanding trait inheritance and stability. A homozygous plant carries identical alleles (e.g., AA or aa) for a given trait, while a heterozygous plant carries two different alleles (Aa). Breeders distinguish between these states when selecting parent plants, as homozygous lines produce more uniform offspring across generations, whereas heterozygous plants introduce genetic variation in their progeny.

Breeders pursuing stable, true-breeding cultivars target homozygous individuals—particularly homozygous dominant (AA) or homozygous recessive (aa)—to ensure consistent trait expression. Heterozygous plants are valuable for creating F1 hybrids, which often display hybrid vigor, but require careful crossing strategy to maintain desired phenotypes in subsequent generations.