epigenesis

/,epi'dʤenisis/
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Thân thiện
Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A biological theory of development: In biology, epigenesis is the theory that an organism develops from an undifferentiated state through successive stages of differentiation and growth, rather than from a preformed, miniature version of itself.
    • A geological process: In geology, epigenesis refers to the process of mineralogical or textural change in a rock after its initial formation, often due to the action of external fluids or later metamorphic events.
Usage Examples

  • Noun (Biological context):

    • The theory of epigenesis, proposed in opposition to preformationism, argues that complex structures arise progressively during embryonic development.
    • Modern developmental biology supports the concept of epigenesis, where gene expression is regulated by environmental factors.

  • Noun (Geological context):

    • The quartz veins in the limestone are a result of epigenesis, where silica-rich fluids deposited new minerals long after the host rock was formed.
    • Geologists study the epigenesis of ore deposits to understand the sequence of mineral formation.
Advanced Usage

  • "Theory of epigenesis": The specific biological doctrine.

    • Aristotle is often considered an early proponent of the theory of epigenesis.

  • "Epigenetic" (adjective): Pertaining to or arising from epigenesis. In modern biology, this commonly refers to heritable changes in gene expression not caused by changes in the DNA sequence itself.

    • Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, play a crucial role in cellular differentiation.
    • The ore body shows clear epigenetic characteristics, indicating it formed later than the surrounding rock.
Variants and Related Words

  • Epigenetic (adj): Relating to epigenesis.

    • Epigenetic inheritance (Biology), epigenetic mineralization (Geology).

  • Epigenetics (n): The modern field of study concerning heritable phenotypic changes without altering the DNA sequence.

    • The science of epigenetics explores how environment and behavior can affect how genes work.
Synonyms
  • Development (in the biological sense).
  • Post-formational alteration or secondary mineralization (in the geological sense).
Related Phrases
  • Epigenetic landscape: A conceptual model in biology representing how cell fate decisions are made during development.
  • Epigenetic deposit: A geological ore deposit formed later than the host rock.
Noun
  1. a geological change in the mineral content of rock after the rock has formed

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