- theory of epigenesis
- theory of epigenesis n a theory in biology: development involves differentiation of an initially undifferentiated entity
Medical dictionary. 2011.
theory of epigenesis
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theory of epigenesis — a theory in biology: development involves differentiation of an initially undifferentiated entity … Useful english dictionary
Epigenesis (biology) — In biology, epigenesis has at least two distinct meanings: * the unfolding development in an organism, and in particular the development of a plant or animal from an egg or spore through a sequence of steps in which cells differentiate and organs … Wikipedia
epigenesis — 1. Development of offspring from a zygote. Cf.:preformation theory. 2. Regulation of the expression of gene activity without alteration of genetic structure. [epi + G. genesis, creation] * * * epi·gen·e·sis .ep ə jen ə sə … Medical dictionary
Epigenesis — Ep i*gen e*sis, n. [Pref. epi + genesis.] (Biol.) The theory of generation which holds that the germ is created entirely new, not merely expanded, by the procreative power of the parents. It is opposed to the theory of {evolution}, also to… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
epigenesis — [ep΄i jen′ə sis] n. [ModL: see EPI & GENESIS] 1. Biol. the theory that the embryo, influenced by its internal and external environment, develops progressively by stages, forming structures that were not originally present in the egg: cf.… … English World dictionary
epigenesis — theory of embryonic development Causation and Formation … Phrontistery dictionary
epigenesis — n. [Gr. epi, upon; genesis, beginning] The theory that morphological complexity develops gradually from an essentially formless egg during embryology; during the 18th and 19th century debates, epigenesis represented the theory that complexity… … Dictionary of invertebrate zoology
epigenesis — noun Etymology: New Latin Date: 1798 1. development of a plant or animal from an egg or spore through a series of processes in which unorganized cell masses differentiate into organs and organ systems; also the theory that plant and animal… … New Collegiate Dictionary
epigenesis — The theory that development is a process of gradual increase in complexity as opposed to the preformationist view that supposed that mere increase in size was sufficient to produce adult from embryo … Dictionary of molecular biology
epigenesis — epigenesist, epigenist /i pij euh nist/, n. epigenetic /ep i jeuh net ik/, adj. epigenetically, adv. /ep i jen euh sis/, n. 1. Biol. a. the theory that an embryo develops from the successive differentiation of an originally undifferentiated… … Universalium
