Find the word definition

The Collaborative International Dictionary
Intercrossing

Intercross \In`ter*cross"\ (?; 115), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Intercrossed; p. pr. & vb. n. Intercrossing.]

  1. To cross each other, as lines.

  2. (Biol.) To fertilize by the impregnation of one species or variety by another; to impregnate by a different species or variety.

Wiktionary
intercrossing

vb. (present participle of intercross English)

Usage examples of "intercrossing".

In some cases, I do not doubt that the intercrossing of species, aboriginally distinct, has played an important part in the origin of our domestic productions.

The Dean believes that single species of each genus were created in an originally highly plastic condition, and that these have produced, chiefly by intercrossing, but likewise by variation, all our existing species.

It would be quite necessary, in order to prevent the effects of intercrossing, that only a single variety should be turned loose in its new home.

If it could be shown that our domestic varieties manifested a strong tendency to reversion, -- that is, to lose their acquired characters, whilst kept under unchanged conditions, and whilst kept in a considerable body, so that free intercrossing might check, by blending together, any slight deviations of structure, in such case, I grant that we could deduce nothing from domestic varieties in regard to species.

And in this case the effects of intercrossing can hardly be counterbalanced by natural selection always tending to modify all the individuals in each district in exactly the same manner to the conditions of each.

The intercrossing will most affect those animals which unite for each birth, which wander much, and which do not breed at a very quick rate.

In hermaphrodite organisms which cross only occasionally, and likewise in animals which unite for each birth, but which wander little and which can increase at a very rapid rate, a new and improved variety might be quickly formed on any one spot, and might there maintain itself in a body, so that whatever intercrossing took place would be chiefly between the individuals of the same new variety.

On the above principle, nurserymen always prefer getting seed from a large body of plants of the same variety, as the chance of intercrossing with other varieties is thus lessened.

A vicious circle, worsened by other jealousies and hatreds intercrossing everywhere.

The techniques for intercrossing highly-evolved species of different evolutionary origin were only perfected a few years before my birth.

Then he fell flat again with a muffled thud, and a little dust came out from under him, and a half-dozen little separate skeins of sweat started down his face at one time, crossing and intercrossing as they coursed.