Definition
phylogenesis
noun
- the evolutionary development and history of a species or trait from its earliest forms to the present
Usage: biology; also called phylogeny
Examples
- The phylogenesis of the horse shows a gradual increase in body size over millions of years.
- Scientists study phylogenesis to understand how modern animals descended from ancient ancestors.
- The phylogenesis of wings in birds involved the modification of forelimbs over evolutionary time.
- Comparative anatomy provides evidence for the phylogenesis of different mammal species.
- Understanding phylogenesis helps biologists classify organisms into evolutionary family trees.