Definition of epigenesis in English:
epigenesis
noun ˌɛpɪˈdʒɛnɪsɪsˌɛpəˈdʒɛnəsəs
mass nounBiology The theory, now generally held, that an embryo develops progressively from an undifferentiated egg cell.
Often contrasted with preformation
Example sentencesExamples
- Chapter 5 introduces their role in development, concluding that epigenesis is really, really complicated.
- The contrary view to epigenesis, namely that the embryo was preformed from the beginning, was championed anew in the late 17th century.
- He did not assume that an inert and common matter was sufficient for a plausible formulation of a theory of mechanical epigenesis.
- In epigenesis, the developing organism begins in an undifferentiated state and gradually changes to a more complex state through multiple interactions.
- But while the wholesale conversion to epigenesis put an end to fictitious accounts of miniature organisms, it brought biologists face to face once again with the old question of how the egg gave rise to a fully formed organism.
Derivatives
adjective & noun
Biology While the inability to ‘look inside’ the womb may have led early scientists to favor the epigenesist view that life gradually comes into existence from inanimate matter, we simply know better today.
Origin
Mid 17th century: from epi- 'in addition' + genesis.
Definition of epigenesis in US English:
epigenesis
nounˌɛpəˈdʒɛnəsəsˌepəˈjenəsəs
Biology The theory, now generally held, that an embryo develops progressively from an undifferentiated egg cell.
Often contrasted with preformation
Example sentencesExamples
- Chapter 5 introduces their role in development, concluding that epigenesis is really, really complicated.
- He did not assume that an inert and common matter was sufficient for a plausible formulation of a theory of mechanical epigenesis.
- In epigenesis, the developing organism begins in an undifferentiated state and gradually changes to a more complex state through multiple interactions.
- But while the wholesale conversion to epigenesis put an end to fictitious accounts of miniature organisms, it brought biologists face to face once again with the old question of how the egg gave rise to a fully formed organism.
- The contrary view to epigenesis, namely that the embryo was preformed from the beginning, was championed anew in the late 17th century.
Origin
Mid 17th century: from epi- ‘in addition’ + genesis.