AGAMETE Meaning and
Definition
-
An agamete is a term derived from Greek origin and refers to a biological entity that lacks the ability to engage in sexual reproduction. It is essentially a reproductive cell, such as a gamete, which does not undergo the usual process of combining with another gamete to form a zygote. The prefix "a" in "agamete" signifies the absence or negation of something, in this case, the absence of sexual reproduction.
In most organisms, sexual reproduction involves the fusion of two distinct gametes, usually a sperm and an egg, leading to the formation of a zygote and subsequent genetic variation. However, certain organisms, like some plants and simple organisms such as bacteria and algae, possess agametes. Agametes are typically formed asexually through processes like mitosis or budding, without the involvement of specialized structures related to sexual reproduction.
Due to the lack of genetic recombination, agametes generally carry identical or nearly identical genetic information compared to their parent organism. This characteristic can contribute to a lack of diversity within a population, potentially leaving them more susceptible to environmental changes and less adaptable to evolving conditions.
The concept of agametes is significant in the field of evolutionary biology and genetics, as it highlights the contrasting strategies employed by organisms for reproduction.
-
A protozoan organism producing spores asexually.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for AGAMETE
- agamit
- gamete
- agamet
- zgamete
- sgamete
- wgamete
- qgamete
- afamete
- avamete
- abamete
- ahamete
- ayamete
- atamete
- agzmete
- agsmete
- agwmete
- agqmete
- aganete
- agakete
- agajete
Etymology of AGAMETE
The word "agamete" is derived from the combination of two Greek words: "a-" meaning "absence" or "not", and "gamete" meaning "a sexual reproductive cell".
In Greek, "gamete" comes from the word "gamein", meaning "to marry" or "to be united". It refers to the uniting of male and female reproductive cells during sexual reproduction.
By adding the prefix "a-" to "gamete", the word "agamete" is formed, which denotes the absence or lack of gametes. In biological terms, it is used to describe organisms or individuals that do not produce or utilize sexual reproductive cells, and instead rely on other means of reproduction, such as asexual reproduction.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
