Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A hybrid is an organism resulting from the crossbreeding of two different species or distinct genetic lines. Hybrids often possess a combination of traits from both parent species.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Hybrids can occur naturally or through human intervention.
Many hybrids are sterile, meaning they cannot produce offspring.
Hybrid vigor, or heterosis, is when a hybrid exhibits superior qualities compared to its parents.
The mule is a common example of a sterile hybrid, produced from a horse and donkey.
Hybridization can contribute to the process of speciation by introducing new genetic combinations.
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Related terms
Speciation: The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution.
Genetic Diversity: The total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species.
Reproductive Isolation: Barriers that prevent different species from interbreeding and producing fertile offspring.