parthenogenesis
/ˌpɑːθɪnə(ʊ)ˈdʒɛnɪsɪs
/noun [mass noun] Biology
Reproduction from an ovum without fertilization, especially as a normal process in some invertebrates and lower plants: cyclic parthenogenesis is well displayed in aphids...
- Reproductive modes include sexual reproduction and parthenogenesis, but much remains to be known about development.
- In asexual reproduction, eggs develop without fertilization, a process called parthenogenesis.
- This process is known as parthenogenesis, where unfertilized eggs develop into embryos without sperm.
Derivatives
parthenogenetic
/ adjective ...- Sexual reproduction in cyclically parthenogenetic rotifers results in the production of diapausing, fertilized eggs, which can survive for decades in sediment egg banks.
- The first hypothesis assumes that triploidy is associated with the origin of parthenogenesis and that both diploid and tetraploid parthenogenetic forms are derived.
- It reportedly reproduces exclusively by parthenogenetic female gametes and fragmentation.
parthenogenetically
/ adverb ...- In parthenogenetically reproducing populations, traits involved in sexual reproduction are no longer under selection and thus potentially subject to vestigialization.
- An alternative sexual reproductive mode is, for instance, arrhenotoky, where males are produced parthenogenetically and are haploid, whereas females are diploid and produced from fertilized eggs.
- In apomictic plants, embryos develop parthenogenetically (without fertilization) from unreduced somatic or gametophytic cells.
Origin
Mid 19th century: modern Latin, from Greek parthenos 'virgin' + genesis 'creation'.
Rhymes
- constrict
- constriction
- constrictive
- constrictor
- constrictor muscle
- constringent
- construable
- construal
- construct
- constructed language
- construction
- constructional
- constructionally
- constructionism
- constructionist
- construction paper
- construction site
- constructive
- constructive alternativism
- constructive discharge
- constructive dismissal
- constructive empiricism
- constructive empiricist
- constructively
- constructiveness