Definition

1. Noun:
   • A modern Darwinian theory that explains new species in terms of genetic mutations: Neo-Darwinism is the modern synthesis of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection with Gregor Mendel's theory of genetics. It explains how populations evolve over time through mechanisms like mutation, genetic recombination, and natural selection acting on genetic variation.

Usage

• As a subject: "Neo-Darwinism provides the dominant framework for understanding evolutionary biology."
• As an object: "Many biologists subscribe to the principles of neo-Darwinism."
• With modifiers: "Modern neo-Darwinism incorporates insights from molecular genetics."

Examples

• Noun:
  • The textbook chapter explains the core tenets of neo-Darwinism.
  • Neo-Darwinism integrates Darwin's ideas with the science of heredity.
  • Debates in evolutionary theory sometimes challenge aspects of neo-Darwinism.

Advanced Usage

• In academic discourse: The term is often used to distinguish the modern, genetics-based evolutionary synthesis from Darwin's original 19th-century theory, which lacked a mechanism for heredity.
  • The researcher's work falls squarely within the neo-Darwinian paradigm.
• "Neo-Darwinian" (adjective): Pertaining to or characteristic of neo-Darwinism.
  • The neo-Darwinian view emphasizes the role of random genetic mutations.

Variants and Related Words

• Neo-Darwinian (adj): Of or relating to neo-Darwinism.
  • She holds a neo-Darwinian perspective on adaptation.
• Modern Synthesis (n): A term often used synonymously with neo-Darwinism, referring to the mid-20th-century unification of Darwinian evolution and Mendelian genetics.

Synonyms

• Modern evolutionary synthesis: The integrated theory of evolution combining natural selection and genetics.
• Modern Darwinism: Emphasizes the updated, genetics-informed version of Darwin's theory.

Related Concepts (Not Synonyms)

• Darwinism: The original theory of evolution by natural selection, as proposed by Charles Darwin.
• Mutation: A change in genetic material, a key source of variation in neo-Darwinism.
• Natural selection: The process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring, a central mechanism in neo-Darwinism.

Noun

1. a modern Darwinian theory that explains new species in terms of genetic mutations