phylogeny

phy·log·e·ny  (f-lj-n)

n. pl. phy·log·e·nies

1. The evolutionary development and history of a species or higher taxonomic grouping of organisms. Also called phylogenesis.

2. The evolutionary development of an organ or other part of an organism: the phylogeny of the amphibian intestinal tract.

3. The historical development of a tribe or racial group.

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[Greek phlon, race, class; see phylum + -geny.]

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phylo·genic (-jnk) adj.

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phylogeny [faɪˈlɒdʒɪnɪ], phylogenesis [ˌfaɪləʊˈdʒɛnɪsɪs]

n pl -nies, -geneses [-ˈdʒɛnɪˌsiːz]

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biology) Biology the sequence of events involved in the evolution of a species, genus, etc. Compare ontogeny

[from phylo- + -geny]

phylogenic  [ˌfaɪləʊˈdʒɛnɪk], phylogenetic [ˌfaɪləʊdʒɪˈnɛtɪk] adj

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phylogeny  (f-lj-n)

The evolutionary development and history of a species or higher taxonomic grouping of organisms.

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phylogeny

the history of the development of a plant, animal, or racial type. — phylogenist, n. — phylogenetic, adj.

See also: Evolution

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

phylogeny - (biology) the sequence of events involved in the evolutionary development of a species or taxonomic group of organisms organic evolution, phylogenesis, evolution Scopes trial - a highly publicized trial in 1925 when John Thomas Scopes violated a Tennessee state law by teaching evolution in high school; Scopes was prosecuted by William Jennings Bryan and defended by Clarence Darrow; Scopes was convicted but the verdict was later reversed biological science, biology - the science that studies living organisms anamorphism, anamorphosis - the evolution of one type of organism from another by a long series of gradual changes anthropogenesis, anthropogeny - the evolution or genesis of the human race emergent evolution - the appearance of entirely new properties at certain critical stages in the course of evolution macroevolution - evolution on a large scale extending over geologic era and resulting in the formation of new taxonomic groups microevolution - evolution resulting from small specific genetic changes that can lead to a new subspecies biological process, organic process - a process occurring in living organisms speciation - the evolution of a biological species