doctrine of descent

British  

noun

1. the theory that animals and plants arose by descent from previously existing organisms; theory of evolution

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Example Sentences

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doctrine of descent

From this allusion it appears that he regards a doctrine of descent as opposed to what he describes as an "incomprehensible act of creation."

From The Relations of Science and Religion The Morse Lecture, 1880 by Calderwood, Henry

As Oscar Schmidt justly observes—"Perhaps ninety-nine per cent. of all living, or rather of all working zoologists, are convinced by inductive methods of the truth of the doctrine of descent."

From Freedom in Science and Teaching. from the German of Ernst Haeckel by Huxley, Thomas Henry

Was this period of six years, between 1794 and 1800, given to a reconsideration of the subject resulting in favor of the doctrine of descent?

From Lamarck, the Founder of Evolution His Life and Work by Packard, A. S. (Alpheus Spring)

Until the doctrine of descent was accepted there was no way of explaining the presence of these fossil remains of extinct animals in the earth's crust.

From Sociology and Modern Social Problems by Ellwood, Charles A. (Charles Abram)

On the contrary, Virchow takes them quite easily, sets them aside, and declares that "certain proofs" of the doctrine of descent do not exist, but remain to be discovered.

From Freedom in Science and Teaching. from the German of Ernst Haeckel by Huxley, Thomas Henry