Concept
Epigenesis (biology)
Overview
In biology, epigenesis (or, in contrast to preformationism, neoformationism) is the process by which plants, animals and fungi develop from a seed, spore or egg through a sequence of steps in which cells differentiate and organs form.
Aristotle first published the theory of epigenesis in his book On the Generation of Animals. Although epigenesis appears to be an obvious fact in today's genetic age, historically, creationist theories of life's origins hindered its acceptance. However, during the late 18th century an extended and controversial debate among biologists finally led epigenesis to eclipse the long-established preformationist view. The embryologist Caspar Friedrich Wolff refuted preformationism in 1759 in favor of epigenesis, but this did not put an end to preformationism.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
Possible passages
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As regards this theory of Epigenesis, no one has contributed more either to its proof or to the establishment of the legitimate principles of its application,--partly by the limitation of a too presumptuous employment of it,--than Herr Hofr. _Blumenbach_.[122] In all physical explanations of these formations he starts from organised matter. That crude matter should have originally formed itself according to…
Immanuel Kant, Kant's Critique of Judgement
States what Epigenesis is; opens on Epigenesis.
318) 'is called that of _individual_ preformation or the evolution theory: the system which regards them as products is called Epigenesis.--which might also be called the theory of _generic_ preformation, considering that the productive powers of the générants follow the inherent tendencies belonging to the family characteristics, and that the specific form is therefore a 'virtual' preformation, in this way the…
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, The Logic of Hegel
States what Epigenesis is; opens on Epigenesis.
If it survives to the fourth month, the parts appear formed. 5. The whole completion of the parts is more slow in the female than in the male, and parturition is more frequently delayed to the tenth month. After birth, females attain to youth, and puberty, and old age, more rapidly than males, and those that have borne many children more rapidly than others, as it was observed before.
Aristotle, Aristotle's History of Animals In Ten Books
States what Epigenesis is; the author is tied to Epigenesis in the knowledge graph.
Related ideas
Place in the tradition
Part of Vitalism.