pangenesis
/panˈdʒɛnɪsɪs/Biology. Now historical
noun
A theory postulated by Darwin to explain the phenomena of heredity, according to which every constituent unit of an organism reproduced itself by contributing particles (gemmules) to the organism's reproductive cells.
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in Charles Darwin (1809–1882), naturalist, geologist, and originator of the theory of natural selection. From pan- + -genesis.