polyembryony

[ pol-ee-em-bree-uh-nee, -oh-nee, -em-brahy-uh-nee ]
/ ˌpɒl iˈɛm bri ə ni, -ˌoʊ ni, -ɛmˈbraɪ ə ni /

noun Embryology.

the production of more than one embryo from one egg.

Origin of polyembryony

1840–50; poly- + Greek émbryon embryo + -y3

Example sentences from the Web for polyembryony

British Dictionary definitions for polyembryony

polyembryony
/ (ˌpɒlɪˈɛmbrɪənɪ) /

noun

the production of more than one embryo from a single fertilized egg cell: occurs in certain plants and parasitic hymenopterous insects

Derived forms of polyembryony

polyembryonic (ˌpɒlɪˌɛmbrɪˈɒnɪk), adjective

Medical definitions for polyembryony

polyembryony
[ pŏl′ē-ĕmbrē-ə-nē, -ĕm-brī- ]

n.

Development of more than one embryo from a single egg or ovule.

Scientific definitions for polyembryony

polyembryony
[ pŏl′ē-ĕmbrē-ə-nē, -ĕm-brī- ]

Development from a single fertilized egg cell or, in plants, from a single ovule. In human beings, identical twins are the result of polyembryony. In gymnosperm plants, polyembryony involves the fertilization of more than one egg, though usually only one embryo survives in the ovule.