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.
| 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) |