self-fertilization

American  

[self-fur-tl-uh-zey-shuhn, self-] / ˈsɛlfˌfɜr tl əˈzeɪ ʃən, ˌsɛlf- /

noun

1. Botany. fertilization of an ovum of a plant by a male gamete from the same flower (cross-fertilization ).

2. Zoology. fertilization of the ovum of a hermaphroditic animal by a sperm from the same individual, as in some species of tapeworm.

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self-fertilization British  

noun

1. fertilization in a plant or animal by the fusion of male and female gametes produced by the same individual Compare cross-fertilization

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self-fertilization Scientific  

/ sĕlf′fûr′tl-ĭ-zā′shən /

1. Fertilization that occurs when male and female gametes produced by the same organism unite. Self-fertilization occurs in many protozoans and invertebrate animals. It results from self-pollination in plants. Self-fertilization allows an isolated individual organism to reproduce but restricts the genetic diversity of a community.

2. Compare cross-fertilization

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Other Word Forms

• self-fertilized adjective
• self-fertilizing adjective

Etymology

Origin of self-fertilization

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

Among a handful of species exist hermaphrodites capable of self-fertilization.

From Science Daily • Mar. 14, 2024

Before the plants have matured, you remove the pollen-producing organs from the tall/inflated plants in your crosses to prevent self-fertilization.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

As convenient as it might sound to forego the headaches of courting a mate, the team points out that self-fertilization comes at a cost: the isolated worms produced fewer hatchlings with lower survival rates. 

From Science Magazine • Jul. 1, 2015

Many species have specific mechanisms in place to prevent self-fertilization, because it is an extreme form of inbreeding and usually produces less fit offspring.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013

Professor Darwin says self-fertilization is abhorrent to nature, and the same rule that applies to small fruits is equally applicable to apples.

From The Apple by Various