| n. | 1. | (Biol.) 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.) The production of seed without fertilization, believed to occur through the nonsexual formation of an embryo extraneous to the embryonic vesicle. |
| Noun | 1. | parthenogenesis - human conception without fertilization by a man Synonyms: parthenogeny, virgin birth |
| 2. | parthenogenesis - process in which an unfertilized egg develops into a new individual; common among insects and some other arthropods Synonyms: parthenogeny |
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