Thelytocia is a term used in obstetrics to describe a condition where a female animal has multiple offspring of the same sex. The spelling of this word is determined by its phonetic transcription in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). It is pronounced as /θəˌlaɪˈtoʊsiə/, with emphasis on the second syllable. The "th" sound is represented by the dental fricative symbol /θ/. The first syllable is pronounced with a schwa sound /ə/. The second and third syllables are pronounced with a long "i" sound /aɪ/. The final syllable is pronounced with a stressed "o" sound /oʊ/ and a soft "a" sound /siə/.
Thelytocia is a term primarily used in the field of biology and reproductive physiology to describe a specific reproductive strategy found in certain species of animals. It refers to a mode of reproduction where females are capable of producing only female offspring (in some cases, very rarely males may also be produced). Thelytocia is in contrast to other reproductive strategies such as bisexuality, where both male and female offspring are produced.
In the realm of genetics, thelytocia can occur through sex determination mechanisms that involve the inheritance of specific genes or through environmental factors. In some species, thelytocia can be influenced by temperature, while in others it may be determined by specific genes or genetic markers.
Thelytocia can also be observed in social insects such as ants and bees, where certain individuals within the colony possess the ability to reproduce, while others are sterile. Queen ants and bees, for example, can reproduce by parthenogenesis, a form of thelytocia where offspring are produced from unfertilized eggs.
This term, thelytocia, provides a way to categorize and understand the mode of reproduction in animals that have evolved unique reproductive strategies. By studying thelytocia, scientists can gain insight into the genetic, physiological, and environmental factors that influence sex determination and reproductive success in various species.
Giving birth to females only, noting specifically the phenomenon of parthenogenesis in insects in which only females are produced.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "thelytocia" has its roots in ancient Greek. It is composed of two Greek words: "thelys" meaning "female" or "woman", and "tokos" meaning "childbirth" or "offspring". Therefore, "thelytocia" can be defined as a reproductive condition in females, specifically referring to the ability to produce female offspring only.