polygenesis

American  

[pol-ee-jen-uh-sis] / ˌpɒl iˈdʒɛn ə sɪs /

noun

Biology, Anthropology.

1. origin from more than one ancestral species or line.

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polygenesis British  

/ ˌpɒlɪdʒɪˈnɛtɪk, ˌpɒlɪˈdʒɛnɪsɪs /

noun

1. biology evolution of a polyphyletic organism or group

2. the hypothetical descent of the different races of man from different ultimate ancestors

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Other Word Forms

• polygenetic adjective
• polygenetically adverb

Etymology

Origin of polygenesis

First recorded in 1860–65; poly- + -genesis

Example Sentences

He was a proponent of the theory of polygenesis, which held that some races were separate species, with separate origins.

From New York Times

A proponent of polygenesis — the idea that the races descended from different origins, a notion challenged in its own time and refuted by Darwin — he had the pictures taken to furnish proof of this theory.

From New York Times

Agassiz, a rival of Charles Darwin, subscribed to polygenesis, the theory that black and white people descended from different origins.

From New York Times

In Episode 7, Rebecca implied that Samuel Cartwright didn’t support the theory of polygenesis.

From Slate

Polygenesis, pol-i-jen′e-sis, n. origin from many separate germs: the theory that organisms sprang from different cells.—adjs.

From Project Gutenberg