Describing an organism or life cycle that reproduces in different ways at different stages, rather than always reproducing the same way.
Derived from Greek 'hetero-' (different) and 'gonos' (generation, offspring), with the suffix '-ic' added to form an adjective. This scientific term emerged in the 1800s to classify reproductive patterns.
Aphids are the champions of heterogonic reproduction—they can switch between making clones of themselves and reproducing sexually, depending on whether it's spring or fall. Talk about flexibility!
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