pangenesis

[ pan-jen-uh-sis ]
/ pænˈdʒɛn ə sɪs /

noun Biology.

the theory that a reproductive cell contains gemmules or invisible germs that were derived from the individual cells from every part of the organism and that these gemmules are the bearers of hereditary attributes.

Origin of pangenesis

1868; pan- + genesis; term introduced by Charles Darwin

OTHER WORDS FROM pangenesis

pan·ge·net·ic [pan-juh-net-ik] /ˌpæn dʒəˈnɛt ɪk/, adjective pan·ge·net·i·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby pangenesis

pang, pang-fou, panga, pangaea, pangender, pangenesis, pangfou, pangloss, panglossian, pango pango, pangola grass

Example sentences from the Web for pangenesis

British Dictionary definitions for pangenesis

pangenesis
/ (pænˈdʒɛnɪsɪs) /

noun

a former theory of heredity, that each body cell produces hereditary particles that circulate in the blood before collecting in the reproductive cells See also blastogenesis (def. 1)

Derived forms of pangenesis

pangenetic (ˌpændʒəˈnɛtɪk), adjective pangenetically, adverb