Definition

1. Noun:
   • Fertilization by the union of male and female gametes from the same individual: The biological process where an organism's own male reproductive cell (sperm or pollen) fertilizes its own female reproductive cell (egg or ovule). This process does not involve genetic material from another individual.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • Some plants, like peas, are capable of self-fertilization.
  • The biologist studied the mechanisms that prevent self-fertilization in certain animal species.

Advanced Usage

• "obligate self-fertilization": A reproductive strategy where an organism is only capable of reproducing through self-fertilization.
  • The parasitic worm reproduces through obligate self-fertilization.
• "facultative self-fertilization": A reproductive strategy where an organism can reproduce either through self-fertilization or by mating with another individual.
  • The plant exhibits facultative self-fertilization when pollinators are scarce.

Variants and Related Words

• Self-fertilise (verb, chiefly British spelling): The action of undergoing self-fertilization.
  • The flower can self-fertilise if cross-pollination fails.
• Self-fertilized (adjective): Describing an organism or seed produced by self-fertilization.
  • The self-fertilized seeds were collected for the experiment.
• Selfing (noun, informal in botany): The act of self-fertilization.
  • The genetic purity of the line is maintained through repeated selfing.

Synonyms

• Autogamy: (Technical term) Self-fertilization, especially in plants and some protists.
• Self-pollination: (Specific to plants) The transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma of the same flower or another flower on the same plant, which may lead to self-fertilization.

Antonyms

• Cross-fertilization: Fertilization by the union of male and female gametes from different individuals.
• Outcrossing: The mating of unrelated individuals of the same species.

Related Phrases and Concepts

• "self-incompatibility": A genetic mechanism in many plants that prevents self-fertilization by inhibiting pollen tube growth on the same plant's stigma.
  • The apple tree has a strong self-incompatibility system to promote cross-fertilization.

Noun

1. fertilization by the union of male and female gametes from the same individual