noun
- a form of sexual reproduction in fungi and bacteria involving the transfer and recombination of genetic material without the formation of gametes
Usage: biology; technical
Examples
- Parasexuality allows certain fungi to exchange genetic material and increase genetic diversity.
- The researcher studied parasexuality in Aspergillus species to understand their reproductive mechanisms.
- Unlike true sexual reproduction, parasexuality does not involve the fusion of specialized sex cells.
- Parasexuality plays an important role in the evolution of many microorganisms.
- The laboratory demonstrated parasexuality by observing genetic recombination in bacterial cultures.