Apogamy

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /əˈpɒɡəmɪ/

Definitions

1. The biological process where fertilization takes place without the union of gametes highlights unique reproductive strategies
2. A form of reproduction occurs when an organism develops from non-reproductive cells rather than through the combination of male and female gametes
3. A reproductive method takes place whereby an organism originates from somatic cells instead of the blending of male and female gametes

Etymology: Apogamy is a botanical term for a plant that develops a new generation without the usual fertilisation step, so the egg-producing structure grows into a plant with no fusion of sex cells. The word is built from the Greek prefix "apo-", meaning "away from" or "without", and "-gamy", from Greek "gamos", meaning marriage or union. Put together, the name describes reproduction that happens without the union that normally precedes it. The prefix and suffix are the familiar parts of the word, and the pairing is a deliberate scientific construction rather than something inherited from ancient usage. The "-gamy" ending appears in many biological terms, such as "monogamy" in its original animal and human sense, and "apogamy" follows the same pattern to name a specific mode of plant reproduction.