Alternation of generations
Alternation of generations is a reproductive cycle of certain
plants,
fungi, and
protists. The term is a bit confusing for people familiar only with the life cycle of a typical animal. A more understandable name would be "alternation of phases of a single generation" because we usually consider a
generation of a
species to encompass one complete
life cycle. The life cycle of organisms with "alternation of generations" is characterized by each phase consisting of one of two separate, free-living organisms: a
gametophyte (
thallus (tissue) or plant), which is genetically
haploid, and a
sporophyte (thallus or plant), which is genetically
diploid.
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alternation of generations
Noun
1. the alternation of two or more different forms in the life cycle of a plant or animal
(synonym) heterogenesis, xenogenesis
(hypernym) organic phenomenon
(hyponym) metagenesis, digenesis
Alternation of generations
An alternation of sexual (haploid) and asexual (diploid) form of generations in a life cycle (example: aphids). The relative dominance of each phase is variable in each organism (mosses have a dominant haploid phase whereas angiosperms have a dominant diploid phase). Besides aphids, Daphnia (water flea), rotifers, Hydra have alternation of generations in response to environmental conditions.
ALTERNATION OF GENERATIONS
ALTERNANZA DELLE GENERAZIONI. METAGENESI
alternation of generations