Caenogenesis

3 definitions found

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

  Kenogenesis \Ken`o*gen"e*sis\, n. [Gr. ? new + E. genesis.]
     (Biol.)
     Modified evolution, in which nonprimitive characters make
     their appearance in consequence of a secondary adaptation of
     the embryo to the peculiar conditions of its environment; --
     distinguished from {palingenesis}. [Written also


     {cenogenesis} and {c[ae]nogenesis}.]
     [1913 Webster]

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

  cenogenesis \cen`o*gen"e*sis\ n. [Gr. ? new + E. genesis.]
     (Biol.)
     The introduction during embryonic development of characters
     or structure not present in the earlier evolutionary history
     of the strain or species (as addition of the placenta in
     mammalian evolution); a modified evolution, in which
     nonprimitive characters make their appearance in consequence
     of a secondary adaptation of the embryo to the peculiar
     conditions of its environment; -- distinguished from
     {palingenesis}. [Also spelled {caenogenesis} and formerly
     {kenogenesis}.]
     [WordNet 1.5 + 1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  caenogenesis
       n : introduction during embryonic development of characters or
           structure not present in the earlier evolutionary history
           of the strain or species (as addition of the placenta in
           mammalian evolution) [syn: {cenogenesis}, {kenogenesis},
           {cainogenesis}, {kainogenesis}] [ant: {palingenesis}]