Parthenogenesis

Parthenogenesis (/ˌpɑːrθɪnoʊˈdʒɛnɪsɪs, -θɪnə-/;^[1][2] from the Greek παρθένος, parthénos, 'virgin' + γένεσις, génesis, 'creation'^[3])

is a natural form of asexual reproduction in which growth and development of embryos occur in a gamete (egg or sperm) without combining with another gamete (e.g., egg and sperm fusing).^[4]

In animals, parthenogenesis means development of an embryo from an unfertilized egg cell.

In plants, parthenogenesis is a component process of apomixis.

In algae, parthenogenesis can mean the development of an embryo from either an individual sperm or an individual egg.^[4]

Parthenogenesis occurs naturally in some plants, algae, invertebrate animal species (including nematodes, some tardigrades, water fleas, some scorpions, aphids, some mites, some bees, some Phasmatodea and parasitic wasps) and a few vertebrates (such as some fish,^[5] amphibians, reptiles^[6][7][8] and birds^[9][10][11]).

This type of reproduction has been induced artificially in a few species including fish, amphibians, and mice.^[12][13]