Definition of anagenesis in English:
anagenesis
nounˌanəˈdʒɛnɪsɪsˌanəˈjenəsəs
mass nounBiology Species formation without branching of the evolutionary line of descent.
Example sentencesExamples
- For this reason, it should come as little surprise that proponents of a hierarchical approach to macroevolution do not consider anagenesis to be the dominant mode of species transformation.
- This process of organic transformation includes anagenesis as well as cladogenesis.
- Evolutionary taxonomists such as Simpson use both cladogenesis and anagenesis in their classifications, arguing that taxonomic groups should be based on the branching points in evolution and the degree of difference between groups.
- However, in contrast, his reading of evolutionary theory is both closely linked to the modern synthesis and rejects anagenesis .
- Contrary to some critics of parsimony methods, cladists neither deny the possibility that true ancestors are being sampled nor reject the reality of anagenesis.
Derivatives
adjectiveˌanədʒəˈnɛtɪk
Biology Most of these anagenetic changes are probably concentrated only within the earliest period of the existence of a new species.
Example sentencesExamples
- Species defined in these anagenetic terms have neither discrete temporal boundaries nor a sufficient level of constancy during their evolutionary tenures.
- Darwin, who viewed natural selection as a process producing slow anagenetic changes along lines of descent, thought that species were arbitrary slices.
- Assigning species names within an anagenetic lineage is problematic.
- In the first case, i.e. a new anagenetic evolutionary trend, a complete reversal of the direction of natural selection should be assumed.
Origin
Late 19th century: from ana- and genesis.