xenogenesis

Xenogenesis is a term derived from the Greek xenos, meaning foreign, and genesis, meaning origin or birth. In biology, it is used to describe the origin of an organism from material derived from a different species. The concept is most often encountered in discussions of interspecies chimeras or cross-species developmental processes, where cells or tissues from one species contribute to the development of another.

In scientific contexts, xenogenesis is discussed in relation to chimeric organisms, embryo complementation, and other rare cases in which interspecies material participates in development. It is distinct from related ideas such as xenografting or xenotransplantation, which involve transplanting tissues or organs between species, rather than creating new organisms from mixed genetic material. In practice, research involving xenogenesis typically uses model organisms to study development, genetics, and disease.

Xenogenesis also appears in literature and speculative fiction as a concept describing life or offspring with foreign origin. The best-known example is the Xenogenesis trilogy by Octavia E. Butler, published as Dawn (1987), Adulthood Rites (1988), and Imago (1989). The series explores human encounters with an alien species and the genetic interbreeding and social implications of such contact.

Because the term can be used in different contexts and with varying emphasis, readers should consider the source and terminology in each case. In modern biology, more precise terms such as chimerism and xenotransplantation are commonly used to describe related phenomena.