Parthenogenesis
Pronunciation : Par`the*no*gen"e*sis
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [Gr. parqe`nos a virgin + E. genesis.]
Definition : 1. (Biol.)
Defn: 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.)
Defn: The production of seed without fertilization, believed to occur through the nonsexual formation of an embryo extraneous to the embrionic vesicle.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
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