neo-Darwinism

neo-Darwinism
—neo-Darwinian, adj., n. —neo-Darwinist, n.
/nee'oh dahr"wi niz'euhm/, n. Biol.
1. the theory of evolution as expounded by later students of Charles Darwin, esp. Weismann, holding that natural selection accounts for evolution and denying the inheritance of acquired characters.
2. any modern theory of evolution holding that species evolve by natural selection acting on genetic variation.
[1900-05]

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Theory of evolution that represents a synthesis of Charles Darwin's theory in terms of natural selection and modern population genetics.

The term was first used after 1896 to describe the theories of August Weismann (1834–1914), who asserted that his germ-plasm theory made impossible the inheritance of acquired characteristics and supported natural selection as the only major process that would account for biological evolution.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • neo-Darwinism — noun a modern Darwinian theory that explains new species in terms of genetic mutations • Derivationally related forms: ↑neo Darwinian • Hypernyms: ↑Darwinism * * * “+ noun Usage: often capitalized N & usually capitalized D Etymology: ne +… …   Useful english dictionary

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  • neo-Darwinism — noun Date: circa 1900 a theory of evolution that is a synthesis of Darwin s theory in terms of natural selection and modern population genetics • neo Darwinist noun …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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