panmixia

American  

[pan-mik-see-uh] / pænˈmɪk si ə /

Also panmixis

noun

Animal Behavior.

1. random mating of individuals within a population, the breeding individuals showing no tendency to choose partners with particular traits.

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panmixia British  

/ pænˈmɪksɪs, pænˈmiktik, pænˈmɪksɪə /

noun

1. (in population genetics) random mating within an interbreeding population

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Other Word Forms

• panmictic adjective

Etymology

Origin of panmixia

1885–90; pan- + Greek míx ( is ) mingling, mixing ( m ( e ) ig ( nýnai ) to mix + -sis -sis ) + -ia

Example Sentences

Dwindling by natural selection is here out of the question; and dwindling by panmixia, i.e. the diminution of a structure when natural selection ceases to affect its degree of development, "would be incredible, even were the assumptions of the theory valid."

From Project Gutenberg

Moreover, the convinced Neo-Darwinian is not in the least prepared to abandon the theory of dwindling in the course of panmixia, especially in the light which Weismann's conception of Germinal Selection has thrown on this process.

From Project Gutenberg

Such is the principle which Weismann calls Panmixia, because, by the withdrawal of selection from any particular part, promiscuous breeding ensues with regard to that part.

From Project Gutenberg

I called the principle the Cessation of Selection—which I still think a better, because a more descriptive, term than Panmixia; and at that time it appeared to me, as it now appears to Weismann, entirely to supersede the necessity of supposing that the effect of disuse is ever inherited in any degree at all.

From Project Gutenberg

And this line of evidence is invalidated by Panmixia.

From Project Gutenberg