Vitellogenesis
/ˌvɪt.əˌlɒdʒ.əˈniː.sɪs/noun
The process of producing and accumulating yolk in developing eggs.
Did you know?Vitellogenesis is built from the same Latin root as English vitellus, the word for yolk, which comes from vitulus, meaning a calf or young animal because of the color association.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wet-
“A root linked to yearling animals and youth”
Latin
Latin
vitulus
“A calf or young animal”
Latin
Latin
vitellus
“A little calf; later, the yolk of an egg”
Modern scientific Latin
Latin
vitello- + -genesis
“Yolk + creation, formation”
Modern English
English
vitellogenesis
“The formation of yolk in developing eggs”