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

It appears to me that what is wanted is to take a number of typical cases, and in each of them show how Natural Selection comes in to carry on the degeneration begun by panmixia.

From Alfred Russel Wallace: Letters and Reminiscences, Vol. 2 by Marchant, James

Thirdly, according to my view of the action of panmixia as previously explained, no total discharge of colouration is likely to be caused by such action alone.

From Darwin, and After Darwin, Volume 2 Post-Darwinian Questions: Heredity and Utility by Romanes, George John

So with the eyes of cave animals, panmixia could only cause an imperfection of vision equal to the average of those variations which occurred, say, during a century before the animal entered the cave.

From Alfred Russel Wallace: Letters and Reminiscences, Vol. 2 by Marchant, James

There is now no question in any quarter touching the fact that panmixia, or the cessation of selection, is a true cause of degeneration.

From Darwin, and After Darwin, Volume 2 Post-Darwinian Questions: Heredity and Utility by Romanes, George John

My dear Mr. Poulton,—As to panmixia you have quite misunderstood my position.

From Alfred Russel Wallace: Letters and Reminiscences, Vol. 2 by Marchant, James