What does parthenogenesis mean?
Parthenogenesis is a form of asexual reproduction in which offspring develop from unfertilized eggs. It occurs in many invertebrates, including aphids, some bees, wasps, and insects, as well as in certain reptiles, fish, and plants. In some species it is the normal means of reproduction; in others, it occurs alongside sexual reproduction, particularly under favorable environmental conditions. The process differs from sexual reproduction because no fusion with a male gamete is required, although the resulting offspring are generally genetically very similar to their mother and are typically female. The word is most often encountered in biology and related agricultural research. It has also attracted wider interest because the same underlying idea resembles the traditional description of a “virgin birth,” though the scientific term refers specifically to development from an unfertilized egg.
nounA form of asexual reproduction in which a new organism develops from an unfertilized egg. It occurs in a wide range of animals and plants and may be the sole or an alternative reproductive method of a species.
- The development of a new organism from an egg that has not been fertilized.
"The aphid population increased rapidly as the females produced offspring through parthenogenesis."
"Scientists identified the population as a parthenogenetic species after observing that the females produced offspring without mating."
"In certain plants, parthenogenesis can produce seeds even when the flowers have not been pollinated."
The plural is uncommon and is used mainly in scholarly or general reference contexts.
"The article compares different forms of parthenogeneses across several animal species."
Some female aphids can give birth to living young without mating—a reproductive shortcut that can transform a colony overnight.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does parthenogenesis come from?
The word was formed in the nineteenth century from New Latin, combining Greek parthēnos, meaning “maiden” or “virgin,” with genesis, meaning “origin” or “production.” Its components reflect the defining feature of the process: generation without prior fertilization. The element parthenos also underlies words such as parthenon and parthenocarpic, while its association with the Greek god Hymen appears in words connected with the hymenal membrane.
Related word forms
How parthenogenesis is actually used
The term is primarily technical and is used in biology, agriculture, and reproductive studies. “Virgin birth” is sometimes used as an accessible comparison, but that expression also has religious and mythological meanings and should not be treated as proof of the biological process.
Easily confused with parthenogenesis
Parthenogenesis is the production of offspring from an unfertilized egg, whereas hermaphroditism is the condition of possessing reproductive structures of both sexes.