Which of the following is another term for heterosis?

Heterosis, often referred to as hybrid vigor, describes the phenomenon where the offspring of two genetically diverse parents exhibit improved or superior biological functions compared to their parents. This can include enhancements in traits such as growth rate, fertility, yield, and resistance to disease. The underlying mechanism involves the interaction of different alleles that can lead to beneficial traits when combined, allowing hybrids to outperform their purebred counterparts.

In contrast, the other terms have different meanings: homozygous refers to an individual having two identical alleles for a specific gene, heterozygous denotes having two different alleles for a gene, and heredity pertains to the passing of traits from parents to offspring. These concepts do not capture the essence of hybrid vigor and its implications in breeding and agriculture.