anisogamy
|an-i-sog-a-my|
🇺🇸
/ˌænɪˈsɑːɡəmi/
🇬🇧
/ˌænɪˈsɒɡəmi/
unequal gametes
Etymology
'anisogamy' originates from Greek, specifically from the elements 'anisos' meaning 'unequal' and 'gamos' meaning 'marriage' or 'union'.
'anisogamy' entered scientific usage via New Latin 'anisogamia' and later became the modern English term 'anisogamy' used in biology.
Initially formed from roots meaning 'unequal marriage/union', it came to refer specifically to the biological condition of 'unequal gametes' in sexual reproduction.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a form of sexual reproduction in which the gametes that fuse differ in size or form (typically small motile sperm and large non-motile eggs).
Anisogamy is widespread among animals and many plants, where reproduction involves differently sized gametes.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/13 07:36