anagenesis
noun
ana·gen·e·sis
ˌa-nə-ˈje-nə-səs 
: evolutionary change producing a single lineage in which one taxon replaces another without branching compare cladogenesis
Examples of anagenesis in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The difference between anagenesis — a linear progression from Species A to its descendent, Species B — and cladogenesis — when a single species A splits into two or more distinct descendent species (B, C, and so on) — may seem a bit in the weeds for the average armchair paleoanthropologist.
—
Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 28 Aug. 2019
The new paper also makes the case for D. horneri being an example of anagenesis, when enough changes accumulate over time to turn one species into another in a linear way, as opposed to cladogenesis, in which one ancestor species radiates into multiple other species.
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 30 Mar. 2017
The process, called anagenesis, proposes that one species evolved into another.
—Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 29 Dec. 2022
Evolution can take place by anagenesis, in which changes occur within a lineage.
—Julia Musto, Fox News, 5 Mar. 2022
And that overlap would imply that A. anamensis could not have evolved into A. afarensis by means of anagenesis.
—Kate Wong, Scientific American, 7 Dec. 2019
Based on the ages and characteristics of the available fossils, paleoanthropologists thought A. anamensis gave rise to A. afarensis through an evolutionary process termed anagenesis, in which one species transforms into another.
—Kate Wong, Scientific American, 7 Dec. 2019
But the case for cladogenesis over anagenesis hinges entirely on that 3.9-million-year-old forehead bone from Belohdelie belonging to A. afarensis—no other A. afarensis remains recovered thus far are that old.
—Kate Wong, Scientific American, 7 Dec. 2019
This challenges the long and widely-held view that Lucy’s species evolved gradually from A. anamensis without branching of the evolutionary line – a process known as anagenesis.
—Hester Hanegraef, Quartz Africa, 7 Sep. 2019
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 28 Aug. 2019
The new paper also makes the case for D. horneri being an example of anagenesis, when enough changes accumulate over time to turn one species into another in a linear way, as opposed to cladogenesis, in which one ancestor species radiates into multiple other species.
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 30 Mar. 2017
The process, called anagenesis, proposes that one species evolved into another.
—Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 29 Dec. 2022
Evolution can take place by anagenesis, in which changes occur within a lineage.
—Julia Musto, Fox News, 5 Mar. 2022
And that overlap would imply that A. anamensis could not have evolved into A. afarensis by means of anagenesis.
—Kate Wong, Scientific American, 7 Dec. 2019
Based on the ages and characteristics of the available fossils, paleoanthropologists thought A. anamensis gave rise to A. afarensis through an evolutionary process termed anagenesis, in which one species transforms into another.
—Kate Wong, Scientific American, 7 Dec. 2019
But the case for cladogenesis over anagenesis hinges entirely on that 3.9-million-year-old forehead bone from Belohdelie belonging to A. afarensis—no other A. afarensis remains recovered thus far are that old.
—Kate Wong, Scientific American, 7 Dec. 2019
This challenges the long and widely-held view that Lucy’s species evolved gradually from A. anamensis without branching of the evolutionary line – a process known as anagenesis.
—Hester Hanegraef, Quartz Africa, 7 Sep. 2019
Dictionary Entries Near anagenesis
Cite this Entry
“Anagenesis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anagenesis. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share