Prepotency

(pre-po/ -ten-se), in biology, dominant " force of heredity." The power that one parent may have of impre ing his or her own character upon the offspring, the peculiar characters of the other parent being le obviously transmitted. P., Individual, a phenomenon, recognized by breeders of plants and animals, in which it seems that a marked tendency occasionally exists in certain individuals to transmit their special, individual characters to the majority of the offspring. Among plants, ee. One of the best known examples among animals is that of the " otter sheep. " P., Racial, a particularly marked power of transmi ion in a given race in contrast to other races; this power is more marked in the pouter pigeon than in the fantail, so that when these two races are cro ed, the characters of the pouter predominate in the offspring.