alternation of generations
Definition
Noun: 1. A biological life cycle pattern: The alternation of generations is a reproductive cycle in plants and some algae, fungi, and protists where successive generations alternate between two distinct, multicellular forms: a haploid gametophyte stage and a diploid sporophyte stage. Each generation produces the other.
Usage
The term is used in biology to describe and compare the complex life cycles of certain organisms. * The alternation of generations is a key concept for understanding plant evolution. * Botany students must learn about the alternation of generations in ferns and mosses. * The textbook clearly diagrams the alternation of generations exhibited by many algae.
Advanced Usage
- "Exhibit an alternation of generations": Used to state that an organism has this type of life cycle.
- Many seaweeds exhibit a clear alternation of generations.
- "The haplodiplontic life cycle": This is a more technical, synonymous term for alternation of generations, emphasizing the alternation between haploid (n) and diploid (2n) multicellular phases.
Variants and Related Words
- Gametophyte (n): The haploid, gamete-producing generation in the alternation of generations.
- Sporophyte (n): The diploid, spore-producing generation in the alternation of generations.
- Haplodiplontic (adj): Describing a life cycle characterized by alternation of generations.
Synonyms
- Metagenesis: An older, less common term with the same meaning.
- Heterogenesis: A broader term sometimes used synonymously, but which can also refer to other types of alternating reproduction.
Related Concepts (Not Phrasal Verbs or Idioms)
- Life cycle: The series of stages in the growth and development of an organism.
- Reproductive strategy: The method by which an organism reproduces.
Noun
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the alternation of two or more different forms in the life cycle of a plant or animal
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