reverse cross

Reverse cross is a term used in genetics and breeding research. It describes a special procedure in cross-breeding experiments in which the sexes of the parent lines are swapped compared to the original cross.

concept and process
In a classic cross, for example,
A as mother (female)
B as father (male)
In a reverse cross, however,
A as father (male)
B as mother (female)

purpose of reverse crossing
Investigation of gender-specific effects:
Some genes can be expressed differently depending on parental origin (eg through parental imprinting or epigenetic effects). Reverse crossing helps to identify such differences.

Reverse crosses can be used to test hypotheses about the inheritance of certain traits and to elucidate sex-specific inheritance patterns.

Optimization in plant breeding:
In breeding, reverse crossing is used to find out whether certain crosses lead to better results by choosing a particular maternal or paternal parent.

Reverse crossing is a valuable tool for studying genetic mechanisms and sex-specific effects in inheritance processes.