Biological life cycle
![Life cycle of a mosquito. An adult (imago) lays eggs which develop through several stages to adulthood. Reproduction completes and perpetuates the cycle.](/Images/godic/202502/22/Culex_mosquito_life_cycle_en.svg4627.png")
![Life cycle of the single-celled parasite Babesia.](/Images/godic/202502/22/Babesia_life_cycle_human_en.svg4627.png")
![Zygotic meiosis](/Images/godic/202502/22/Zygotic_meiosis4627.png")
![Gametic meiosis](/Images/godic/202502/22/Gametic_meiosis4627.png")
In biology, a life cycle is a series of changes in form that an organism undergoes, returning to the starting state. "The concept is closely related to those of the life history, development and ontogeny, but differs from them in stressing renewal." Transitions of form may involve growth, asexual reproduction, and/or sexual reproduction.