Dissogony

/dɪˈsɑɡəni/ noun

Definition

In oyster biology, a condition where oysters produce either sperm or eggs at different times during a single breeding season, rather than both together.

Etymology

From Greek dis- (two or separate) + -gony (from genos, meaning reproduction). It's a specialized biological term describing oyster reproductive patterns.

Kelly Says

Oysters practice dissogony in a wild way—individual oysters can switch between being male and female from one breeding season to the next, and some even alternate which gender they are during the same year. Talk about not being committed to a role!

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