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Definition of parthenogenesis - 8 dictionary results

par⋅the⋅no⋅gen⋅e⋅sis

[par-thuh-noh-jen-uh-sis]
–noun Biology.
development of an egg without fertilization.

Origin:
1840–50; partheno- + genesis


par⋅the⋅no⋅ge⋅net⋅ic [pahr-thuh-noh-juh-net-ik] , adjective
par⋅the⋅no⋅ge⋅net⋅i⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
par·the·no·gen·e·sis   (pär'thə-nō-jěn'ĭ-sĭs)   
n.  A form of reproduction in which an unfertilized egg develops into a new individual, occurring commonly among insects and certain other arthropods.

[New Latin : Greek parthenos, virgin + genesis.]
par'the·no·ge·net'ic (-jə-nět'ĭk) adj., par'the·no·ge·net'i·cal·ly adv.

Parthenogenesis

Par`the*no*gen"e*sis\, n. [Gr. parqe`nos a virgin + E. genesis.]

1. (Biol.) The production of new individuals from virgin females by means of ova which have the power of developing without the intervention of the male element; the production, without fertilization, of cells capable of germination. It is one of the phenomena of alternate generation. Cf. Heterogamy, and Metagenesis.

2. (Bot.) The production of seed without fertilization, believed to occur through the nonsexual formation of an embryo extraneous to the embrionic vesicle.

parthenogenesis 
"reproduction without fertilization," 1849, from Gk. parthenos "virgin" + genesis (q.v.).

Main Entry: par·the·no·gen·e·sis
Pronunciation: "pär-th&-nO-'jen-&-s&s
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural par·the·no·gen·e·ses /-"sEz/
: reproduction by development of an unfertilized usually female gamete that occursespecially among lower plants and invertebrate animals

parthenogenesis par·the·no·gen·e·sis (pär'thə-nō-jěn'ĭ-sĭs)
n.
A form of reproduction in which an unfertilized egg develops into a new individual, occurring commonly among insects and certain other arthropods.


par'the·no·ge·net'ic (-jə-nět'ĭk) adj.

parthenogenesis   (pär'thə-nō-jěn'ĭ-sĭs)  Pronunciation Key 
Reproduction in which an egg develops into a new individual without being fertilized. Aphids and certain other insects can reproduce by parthenogenesis. Parthenogenesis does not necessarily produce clones of the parent. Among hymenopterans such as honeybees and ants, the haploid males develop from unfertilized eggs laid by the queen, who is diploid. Parthenogenesis is a form of apomixis.

parthenogenetic adjective (pär'thə-nō-jə-nět'ĭk)

parthenogenesis

biological reproduction that involves development of a female (rarely a male) gamete (sex cell) without fertilization. It occurs commonly among lower plants and invertebrate animals, particularly rotifers, aphids, ants, wasps, and bees. An egg produced parthenogenetically may be either haploid (i.e., with one set of dissimilar chromosomes) or diploid (i.e., with a paired set of chromosomes).

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