Definition of microevolution in English:
microevolution
noun ˌmʌɪkrəʊiːvəˈluːʃ(ə)nˌmʌɪkrəʊiːvəˈluːʃ(ə)ɛv-ˌēvə-
mass nounBiology Evolutionary change within a species or small group of organisms, especially over a short period.
Example sentencesExamples
- They also concede Darwin's theory of microevolution: that species may, over time, adapt to suit their environments.
- Evolutionary biologists debate fiercely about how macroevolutionary change emerges from microevolution.
- They already acknowledge microevolution - mutation and natural selection within a species.
- The creation science folks accept microevolution but not macroevolution.
- Resting eggs of planktonic organisms from datable sediment cores are increasingly used to reconstruct historical information on the abundance, size, genetic composition, and microevolution of planktonic organisms.
Derivatives
adjective
Biology Thus, adaptation-oriented studies of characters have expanded from microevolutionary studies of function and fitness to include macroevolutionary studies of phylogenetic patterns.
Example sentencesExamples
- Neo-darwinian theory posits that the genetic basis for speciation is not qualitatively different from that underlying microevolutionary change within populations.
- Similarly, microevolutionary explanations may not provide a sufficient account of macroevolution, even if such reductionism were justifiable in principle.
- First, genes expressed predominantly in males and the male germ line, and thus often subject to accelerated microevolutionary divergence, may be most likely to be deregulated in hybrids.
- To apply phylogenetic reasoning to questions about species status requires broadening of simple principles when microevolutionary processes may result in true differences among gene phylogenies.