ScienceAugust 11, 2026

admixture

ad-MIKS-chur

Definition

The act of mixing different ancestral populations, or the resulting genetic composition within a single group or individual.

Etymology

The word originated from the Latin 'admixtura,' formed by 'ad-' meaning to and 'mixtura' meaning mixture. It entered English in the late 16th century to describe the act of adding or combining substances.

In the news

In the context of genetics and genomics of hybridization, admixture refers to the process where previously separated populations interbreed, resulting in a genome that contains ancestral components from both groups. It is crucial for understanding evolutionary history and the genomic consequences of hybridization.

Genetics and genomics of hybridization

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Nature

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