Heterogamy

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Heterogamy

Heterogamy has a number of biological definitions: The terms homogametic and heterogametic are related to heterogamy, but distinct.

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Heterogamy has a number of biological definitions:

In reproductive biology, heterogamy is the alternation of differently organized generations, applied to the alternation between parthenogenetic
Parthenogenesis

Parthenogenesis is an asexual form of reproduction found in females where growth and development of embryos or seeds occurs without fertilization by a male....
and a sexual
Sexual reproduction

Sexual reproduction is characterized by processes that pass a Genetic recombination of Genetics material to offspring, resulting in Genetic diversity....
generation. This type of heterogamy occurs for example in some aphid
Aphid

Aphids, also known as plant lice , are small plant-eating insects, and members of the Taxonomic rank Aphidoidea. Aphids are among the most destructive insect pests on cultivated plants in temperate regions....
s.
In cell biology, heterogamy is a synonym of anisogamy
Anisogamy

Anisogamy refers to a form of sexual reproduction involving gametes of different sizes. The smaller gamete is considered to be male whereas the larger gamete is regarded as female ....
, the condition of having differently sized male and female gamete
Gamete

A gamete is a Cell that fuses with another gamete during fertilization in organisms that sexual reproduction. In species which produce two morphologically distinct types of gametes, and in which each individual produces only one type, a female is any individual which produces the larger type of gamete?called an ovum ?and a male produces th...
s produced by different sexes or mating types in a species.
In botany, a plant is heterogamous when it carries at least two different types of flowers in regards to their reproductive structures, for example male and female flowers or bisexual and female flowers. Stamen
Stamen

The stamen is the male organ of a flower. Each stamen generally has a stalk called the filament , and, on top of the filament, an anther , and pollen sacs, called sporangium....
s and carpels are not regularly present in each flower or floret.
In a social context, heterogamy refers to a marriage
Marriage

Marriage is a social, spirituality, or law union of individuals. This union may also be called matrimony, while the ceremony that marks its beginning is usually called a wedding and the married status created is sometimes called wedlock....
between two individuals that differ in a certain criterion. For example, ethnic heterogamy refers to marriages involving individuals of different ethnic groups, and age-heterogamy refers to marriages involving partners of significantly different ages.

The terms homogametic and heterogametic are related to heterogamy, but distinct.