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anagenesis

 
Dictionary: an·a·gen·e·sis   (ăn'ə-jĕn'ĭ-sĭs) pronunciation

n.
A pattern of evolution that results in linear descent with no branching or splitting of the population.


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anagenesis

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What is anagenesis?

When a species gradually changes over time to the extent that it becomes a "new" species but does not give rise to additional species (no divergence), this is described as anagenesis.

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Wikipedia:

Anagenesis

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"Phyletic evolution" redirects here. You may be looking for phyletic gradualism.

Anagenesis, also known as "phyletic change," is the evolution of species involving an entire population rather than a branching event, as in cladogenesis. When enough mutations reach fixation in a population to significantly differentiate from an ancestral population, a new species name may be assigned. A key point is that the entire population is different from the ancestral population such that the ancestral population can be considered extinct.

It is easy to see from the preceding definition how controversy can arise among taxonomists when the differences are significant enough to warrant a new species classification. Anagenesis may also be referred to as "gradual evolution".

As regards social evolution, it has been suggested to view social anagenesis/aromorphosis as a universal / widely diffused social innovation that raises social systems' complexity, adaptability, integrity, and interconnectedness.[1]

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Learn More
Organic evolution (evolution)
Catagenesis
Catagenesis (biology)

Is anagenesis a pattern for the origin of species? Read answer...

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Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Biology Q&A. The Handy Biology Answer Book. 2004 ©Visible Ink Press. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Anagenesis" Read more