asexual reproduction

American  

[ey-sek-shoo-uhl ree-pruh-duhk-shuhn] / ˌeɪˈsɛk ʃu əl ˌri prəˈdʌk ʃən /

noun

Biology.

1. reproduction, as budding, fission, or spore formation, not involving the union of gametes.

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asexual reproduction Scientific  

/ ā-sĕk′sho̅o̅-əl /

1. See under reproduction

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asexual reproduction Cultural  

1. The kind of reproduction in which it is not necessary to have two parents to produce offspring. The reproduction of single-celled organisms through fission, and the production of spores in some plants and plantlike organisms, are examples of asexual reproduction.

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Etymology

Origin of asexual reproduction

First recorded in 18455–60

Compare meaning

How does asexual-reproduction compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• sexual vs. asexual reproduction
• asexual reproduction vs. sexual reproduction

Example Sentences

First, parthenogenesis, a system of asexual reproduction usually found in insects, lizards and plants.

From The Guardian

In theory, just one female could have produced all the long-horned ticks spreading in the country through asexual reproduction.

From New York Times

By not wasting genetic material on the creation of males, all offspring arising from asexual reproduction can go on to produce more.

From BBC

About 50 vertebrates are known to use asexual reproduction including fish, amphibians and reptiles.

From Reuters

In another part of the study, a scientist in Madagascar examined how well the crayfish is able to multiply in the wild via parthenogenesis, a natural form of asexual reproduction.

From The Guardian