What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
heterosomous
Example
Humans are heterosomous, with females having two X chromosomes and males having one X and one Y chromosome. [heterosomous: adjective]
Example
The liver is a heterosomous organ, containing both hepatocytes and Kupffer cells. [heterosomous: adjective]
heteromorphic
Example
Some plants have heteromorphic flowers, with different shapes and sizes of petals and sepals. [heteromorphic: adjective]
Example
The polymorphic butterfly species exhibits heteromorphic wing patterns depending on the season. [heteromorphic: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Heteromorphic is more commonly used than heterosomous in everyday language. Heteromorphic is a versatile term that can be applied to various organisms and structures, while heterosomous is a more specialized term that is limited to genetics and cell biology contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between heterosomous and heteromorphic?
Both heterosomous and heteromorphic are technical terms that are more likely to be used in formal or academic contexts than in casual conversation.
