Outcrossing

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The practice of mating genetically unrelated organisms to enrich genetic variability
2. This refers to the technique of interbreeding distinct gene pools to reduce genetic similarity
3. The process of reproducing by pairing individuals that are not closely related, enhancing the variety of genetic traits

Etymology: Breeding a plant or animal with a partner from a different, unrelated line is called crossing, and "outcrossing" simply extends that idea outward: it means mating with individuals from outside one's own population or stock. The word combines the prefix "out-", meaning beyond or away from, with "cross," which in this sense refers to the mixing of two different strains. The "cross" element itself traces back to Latin "crux," meaning a cross or stake, and reached English through Old Norse and Old English forms of the same root. The breeding sense is what gives the word its life. A geneticist might outcross a small inbred flock to bring in fresh genes, while a horse breeder or dog fancier uses the same term for introducing an unrelated animal into a closed bloodline. In each case, the word describes a deliberate step taken to widen a gene pool that has grown narrow, which is why it carries an implication of renewal as well as contact with outsiders.

Synonyms: crossbreeding