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Glite Dictionary
neo-Darwinism

neo-Darwinism

8.9
A modern theory that new species form by changes in genes and natural selection
  • noun
  • /ˌniːoʊˈdɑːrwɪnɪzəm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : neodarwinismo
  • Most modern biologists accept neo-Darwinism as the foundation of evolutionary theory.

Examples

  • Neo-Darwinism is fascinating.

  • The debate between supporters of neo-Darwinism and creationists continues in some scientific circles.

  • Advances in genetics have strongly reinforced the principles of neo-Darwinism.

  • Many biologists support neo-Darwinism as a key theory in evolutionary biology.

  • The theory of neo-Darwinism combines Darwin's ideas with genetics to explain species evolution.

  • Many biologists support neo-Darwinism as a robust explanation of evolutionary processes.

  • In the study of evolution, neo-Darwinism emphasizes the role of genetics in natural selection.

Surface Forms

neo-Darwinism singular
neo-Darwinisms plural

Morphology

neo-Darwinism = Darwinism (transparent) = neo + Darwin + ism

The word is formed by adding the productive prefix 'neo-' ('new') to 'Darwinism', yielding 'a new form of Darwinism', which is directly inferable from the parts.

Etymology

Neo-Darwinism combines the prefix neo-, which means 'new', with Darwinism, the ideas of scientist Charles Darwin, so it literally means a 'new' form of Darwin's theory. So neo-Darwinism is an updated version of Darwin's idea that adds modern ideas about genes and natural selection.