pangenesis

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Darwin's disproved hypothesis that every part of an organism releases hereditary particles which collect in reproductive cells and can be passed to offspring

   Darwin used pangenesis to explain how traits from many parts of a parent might reappear in its offspring.

Formed in New Latin from Greek pan, 'all,' + genesis, 'origin or generation.' Darwin introduced the hypothesis in 1868 and proposed that all parts of the body contributed microscopic gemmules to heredity.

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