parthenogenesis
noun
par·the·no·gen·e·sis
ˌpär-thə-nō-ˈje-nə-səs 
: reproduction by development of an unfertilized usually female gamete that occurs especially among lower plants and invertebrate animals
Examples of parthenogenesis in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The researchers found several of the creatures were reproducing through parthenogenesis.
—
Evan Bush, NBC News, 29 Feb. 2024
Researchers don’t fully understand why parthenogenesis happens or what triggers it.
—Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 18 Feb. 2024
Thelma, a reticulate python, gave birth through parthenogenesis in 2014, the first time this behavior had been documented in its species.
—Conor Murray, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024
Discovery of facultative parthenogenesis in a new world crocodile
Biology Letters.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 22 Mar. 2024
In addition to parental care, females of some scorpion species can reproduce without the need for mating, using a type of asexual reproduction known as parthenogenesis.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
Scientists are only just beginning to understand how many species can perform parthenogenesis.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 29 Feb. 2024
But for many other species that only occasionally undergo parthenogenesis, offspring might not be as robust, Lyons says.
—Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 18 Feb. 2024
Though parthenogenesis has been seen before, Charlotte’s specific species, the round stingray, has never been reported to give birth this way.
—Catherine Duncan, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Feb. 2024
Evan Bush, NBC News, 29 Feb. 2024
Researchers don’t fully understand why parthenogenesis happens or what triggers it.
—Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 18 Feb. 2024
Thelma, a reticulate python, gave birth through parthenogenesis in 2014, the first time this behavior had been documented in its species.
—Conor Murray, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024
Discovery of facultative parthenogenesis in a new world crocodile
Biology Letters.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 22 Mar. 2024
In addition to parental care, females of some scorpion species can reproduce without the need for mating, using a type of asexual reproduction known as parthenogenesis.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
Scientists are only just beginning to understand how many species can perform parthenogenesis.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 29 Feb. 2024
But for many other species that only occasionally undergo parthenogenesis, offspring might not be as robust, Lyons says.
—Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 18 Feb. 2024
Though parthenogenesis has been seen before, Charlotte’s specific species, the round stingray, has never been reported to give birth this way.
—Catherine Duncan, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'parthenogenesis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near parthenogenesis
Cite this Entry
“Parthenogenesis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parthenogenesis. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
parthenogenesis
noun
par·the·no·gen·e·sis
ˌpär-thə-nō-ˈje-nə-səs
: reproduction especially among lower plants and invertebrates in which a germ cell that has not undergone fertilization develops into a new individual
Medical Definition
parthenogenesis
noun
par·the·no·gen·e·sis
ˌpär-thə-nō-ˈjen-ə-səs
plural parthenogeneses
-ˌsēz
: reproduction by development of an unfertilized usually female gamete that occurs especially among lower plants and invertebrate animals
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