Cenogenesis (Noun)
Meaning
Introduction during embryonic development of characters or structure not present in the earlier evolutionary history of the strain or species (such as the addition of the placenta in mammalian evolution).
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- The discovery of cenogenesis in certain species has shed new light on the mechanisms of evolutionary innovation, where novel traits emerge in response to changing environmental pressures.
- During embryonic development, the introduction of the amnion and chorion in placental mammals represents a striking example of cenogenesis, allowing for more complex fetal development and advanced maternal-fetal interactions.
- Comparative studies of developmental biology have revealed numerous instances of cenogenesis across the animal kingdom, challenging traditional views of evolution as solely a gradual, incremental process.
- The sudden appearance of the neocortex in therian mammals during embryonic development is considered a classic example of cenogenesis, marking a significant departure from the evolutionary trajectory of their anapsid ancestors.
- Paleontological and comparative embryological evidence suggests that the origin of the vertebrate limb was a cenogenetic event, where a novel body plan feature emerged in response to the demands of terrestrial locomotion.