| Noun | 1. | theory of organic evolution - (biology) a scientific theory of the origin of species of plants and animals scientific theory - a theory that explains scientific observations; "scientific theories must be falsifiable" biological science, biology - the science that studies living organisms Darwinism - a theory of organic evolution claiming that new species arise and are perpetuated by natural selection Lamarckism - a theory of organic evolution claiming that acquired characteristics are transmitted to offspring punctuated equilibrium, theory of punctuated equilibrium - a theory of evolution holding that evolutionary change in the fossil record came in fits and starts rather than in a steady process of slow change |