Heteroloog

Heteroloog is a Dutch term used in biology and medicine to describe material, genes, tissues, or processes that originate from a source different from the subject of interest. The term derives from Greek roots meaning 'other' and 'study' or 'relation' and is used to distinguish non-self or non-native sources from homologous or native ones.

In genetics and biotechnology, heterologous expression refers to expressing a gene in a host organism that is different from the gene’s native species. This technique is common in research and industrial production, enabling easier protein production, purification, and functional analysis. In such contexts, the host is described as heterologous with respect to the gene.

In medicine, heterologous materials or grafts are tissues or cells obtained from a donor that is not the patient and may be from a different species or an unrelated individual. This contrasts with autologous grafts (from the same individual) and allogeneic grafts (from another individual of the same species). Heterologous or xenogeneic materials carry higher immune rejection risk and have specific clinical considerations.

In vaccinology and immunology, the term can appear in phrases like heterologous prime-boost strategies, where different vaccine platforms are used to induce a broader immune response.

Overall, heteroloog denotes an origin that is outside the usual homologous or native source, and its precise meaning depends on the scientific context.