Any of several hormones, originally discovered in plants, which induce the premature metamorphosis of some insect larvae into frequently sterile adults, and are used to control insect populations.
Origin
1970s. From precoc- + -ene.
Definition of precocene in US English:
precocene
nounprɪˈkəʊsiːn
Biochemistry
Any of several hormones, originally discovered in plants, which induce the premature metamorphosis of some insect larvae into frequently sterile adults, and are used to control insect populations.