parthenogenesis

Noun

Meaning

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.

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

Source: Webster's dictionary

Synonyms

parthenogeny virgin birth nativity birth authorship monogenesis abiogenesis biogenesis epigenesis hermaphroditism agamogenesis oogenesis heterogenesis autogenesis blastogenesis
Show all synonyms

Hypernyms

agamogenesis asexual reproduction apomixis

Hyponyms

gynogenesis androgenesis androgeny

Related terms

parthenogenetic parthenote parthenogen

Examples

A few species of fish, reptiles, and insects reproduce by parthenogenesis and are female altogether. Source: Internet

Agkistrodon contortrix (copperhead snake) and Agkistrodon piscivorus (cotton mouth snake) can reproduce by facultative parthenogenesis. Source: Internet

A few species of amphibians, reptiles, and birds have a similar ability (see parthenogenesis for examples). Source: Internet

However, the Colombian Rainbow boa, Epicrates maurus can also reproduce by facultative parthenogenesis resulting in production of WW female progeny. citation The WW females are likely produced by terminal automixis. Source: Internet

Nevertheless, for the latter, only a few have been described (in a 1984 paper). citation citation citation No naturally occurring cases of parthenogenesis exist in mammals because of imprinted genes. Source: Internet

Both captive-born and wild-born A. contortrix and A. piscivorus appear to be capable of this form of parthenogenesis. Source: Internet

Close letter words and terms

Parthenocissus tricuspidata parthenoform parthenogen parthenogenetic parthenogenetical parthenogenetically