Polygeny

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Polygenesis \Pol`y*gen"e*sis\ (-j[e^]n"[-e]*s[i^]s), Polygeny
  \Po*lyg"e*ny\ (p[-o]*l[i^]j"[-e]*n[y^]), n. [Poly- + genesis, or
     root of Gr. gi`gnesqai to be born.] (Biol.)
     The theory that living organisms originate in cells or
     embryos of different kinds, instead of coming from a single
     cell; -- opposed to {monogenesis}.


     [1913 Webster]