alternation of generations
- noun
- /ˌɔːltərˈneɪʃən əv dʒɛnəˈreɪʃənz/
- Specialized
:
alternancia de generaciones
- Fewer than 10% mentioned anything about free-living haploid gametophytes, diploid vascular sporophytes, swimming sperm, or alternation of generations.
Examples
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Many ferns exhibit an alternation of generations, alternating between a haploid gametophyte and a diploid sporophyte.
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Although C-Fern can be used as a superb example of a plant life cycle and alternation of generations, its potential goes far beyond these uses:
Academic text (1998) -
The alternation of generations allows certain plants to reproduce both sexually and asexually during their life cycle.
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In the moss life cycle, the alternation of generations includes distinct gametophyte and sporophyte stages.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A life cycle in which a plant or animal changes between different forms
A life cycle with one generation that reproduces sexually and one that reproduces without sex
An organism with one generation that reproduces by sex and the next generation that reproduces without sex
A life cycle with stages that reproduce sexually and stages that reproduce without sex
Surface Forms
Morphology
alternation + of + generation
The phrase transparently combines 'alternation' (a process of switching) with 'generations' (successive groups or stages), so a learner who knows the constituent words can infer it refers to switching between different generations or life stages. However, the precise biological sense — alternating sexual and asexual phases — is domain-specific and the noun 'generation' has a technical sense here that a B1 learner may not predict, so full comprehension requires prior exposure.
Etymology
Alternation of generations comes from the simple image of alternation, meaning 'taking turns', and generations, meaning the different forms in a plant or animal life cycle. One form looks different and makes spores or seeds while the other makes reproductive cells, so the phrase means the life cycle 'switches' between these different forms.