Parthenogenesis vs. Parthenocarpy — What's the Difference?

Parthenogenesis (; from the Greek παρθένος, parthénos, 'virgin' + γένεσις, génesis, 'creation') is a natural form of asexual reproduction in which growth and development of embryos occur without fertilization by sperm. In animals, parthenogenesis means development of an embryo from an unfertilized egg cell.

In botany and horticulture, parthenocarpy is the natural or artificially induced production of fruit without fertilisation of ovules, which makes the fruit seedless. Stenospermocarpy may also produce apparently seedless fruit, but the seeds are actually aborted while they are still small.

A form of reproduction in which an unfertilized egg develops into a new individual, occurring commonly among insects and certain other arthropods.

The production of fruit without fertilization.

The artificial activation of an unfertilized usually mammalian egg, resulting in an embryolike cell cluster from which stem cells can be harvested.

(botany) production of (seedless) fruit without fertilization of ovules.

(biology) Referring to various aspects of asexual reproduction:

(botany) the development of a fruit without fertilization or seeds

(An instance of) reproduction by the development of a single gamete (an ovum or ovule) without fertilisation by a gamete of the opposite sex; compare metagenesis, heterogamy.

Asexual reproduction in toto; agamogenesis.

Figurative uses of the biological senses

(theology) Virgin birth, in reference to the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ.

The production of new individuals from virgin females by means of ova which have the power of developing without the intervention of the male element; the production, without fertilization, of cells capable of germination. It is one of the phenomena of alternate generation. Cf. Heterogamy, and Metagenesis.

The production of seed without fertilization, believed to occur through the nonsexual formation of an embryo extraneous to the embryonic vesicle.

Human conception without fertilization by a man

Process in which an unfertilized egg develops into a new individual; common among insects and some other arthropods