[Cubo-/Scyphomedusae] Alternation of a sexual stage in the life cycle with one or more asexual (vegetative) ones. Monogenetic organisms have a single stage, necessarily the sexual one (e.g. vertebrates). If just one asexual stage is interposed, as in Leptolida, Cubomedusae and Scyphomedusae, the term digenetic (two stages) can be applied. For detailed account see Naumov (1960, 1969).

Alternative forms for Metagenesis : metagenetic, metagenic.