parthenogenesis

Everyday

Parthenogenesis is a way some animals and plants have babies from an egg that has not been fertilised, so no father is needed. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons on reproduction it is a surprising fact: aphids, some lizards (like whiptail lizards), some sharks and Komodo dragons in zoos, water fleas and bees (male drones) can reproduce this way. Offspring are often almost copies of the mother. Phrases: «reproduce by parthenogenesis».

Examples

• Some aphids reproduce by parthenogenesis in summer. tree →
• A Komodo dragon in a zoo had babies by parthenogenesis. tree →
• Whiptail lizards are all female and use parthenogenesis. tree →
• Parthenogenesis means a baby grows from an unfertilised egg. tree →
• Male honeybees come from unfertilised eggs, a kind of parthenogenesis. tree →
• Scientists were surprised to find parthenogenesis in a shark. tree →

Note

Uncountable. Said «PAR-thuh-noh-JEN-uh-sis». From Greek «parthenos» (maiden) + «genesis» (birth). It is natural in some animals; it does not happen naturally in mammals.