Self-fertilization in plants or animals, where an organism reproduces using only its own genetic material without another individual.
From 'auto-' (self) and 'fecundation' (from Latin 'fecundus,' fertile). This biological term developed as botanists and zoologists studied reproductive strategies.
Some plants are incredibly independent—they can fertilize themselves, meaning a single plant can create a new generation all by itself, which is either efficient or a genetic dead-end depending on how you look at it!
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