heterogamy

American  

[het-uh-rog-uh-mee] / ˌhɛt əˈrɒg ə mi /

noun

1. heterogamous state.

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heterogamy British  

/ ˌhɛtəˈrɒɡəmɪ /

noun

1. a type of sexual reproduction in which the gametes differ in both size and form Compare isogamy

2. a condition in which different types of reproduction occur in successive generations of an organism

3. the presence of both male and female flowers in one inflorescence Compare homogamy

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heterogamy Scientific  

/ hĕt′ə-rŏg′ə-mē /

1. Alternation of sexual and parthenogenetic generations, as in the life cycles of some aphids.

2. A reproductive system that is characterized by the fusion of gametes (called heterogametes) that are dissimilar in size and structure, such as the egg and sperm of animals.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• heterogamous
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of heterogamy

First recorded in 1870–75; hetero- + -gamy

Example Sentences

Heterotaxy affecting the inflorescence.—Under the head of Prolification, Heterogamy, &c., various deviations from the normal inflorescence are alluded to.

From Vegetable Teratology An Account of the Principal Deviations from the Usual Construction of Plants by Masters, Maxwell T.

The principal alterations to be mentioned under this head may therefore be conveniently arranged under the following categories:—Union, Independence, Displacement, Prolification, Heterotaxy, and Heterogamy.

From Vegetable Teratology An Account of the Principal Deviations from the Usual Construction of Plants by Masters, Maxwell T.

Heterogamy: applied to those cases in which two sexual or a sexual and parthenogenetic generation alternate.

From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by Smith, John. B.

For other illustrations refer to chapters on Heterogamy, Number, Irregular Peloria, &c.

From Vegetable Teratology An Account of the Principal Deviations from the Usual Construction of Plants by Masters, Maxwell T.