polyembryony

[ pol-ee-em-bree-uh-nee, -oh-nee, -em-brahy-uh-nee ]

noun

, Embryology.

1. the production of more than one embryo from one egg.

polyembryony

/ ˌpɒlɪˌɛmbrɪˈɒnɪk; ˌpɒlɪˈɛmbrɪənɪ /

noun

1. the production of more than one embryo from a single fertilized egg cell: occurs in certain plants and parasitic hymenopterous insects

polyembryony

/ pŏl′ē-ĕm′brē-ə-nē,-ĕm-brī′- /

1. Development from a single fertilized egg cell or, in plants, from a single ovule. In human beings, identical twins are the result of polyembryony. In gymnosperm plants, polyembryony involves the fertilization of more than one egg, though usually only one embryo survives in the ovule.

Derived Forms

• polyembryonic, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of polyembryony¹

1840–50; poly- + Greek émbryon embryo + -y ³

Example Sentences

Polyembryony: the production of several embryos from a single egg, as in some Chalcids.

From Project Gutenberg

Polyembryony is generally associated with the development of cells other than the egg-cell.

From Project Gutenberg