Macroevolution
Macroevolution
Macroevolution (pronunciation: /ˌmakrōˌēvəˈlo͞oSH(ə)n/) is a term used in the field of Evolutionary Biology to describe the process of large-scale changes in species over geological time. The term is derived from the Greek words "makros" meaning "large" and "evolution" meaning "unfolding".
Etymology
The term "Macroevolution" was first coined in the 20th century by Russian entomologist Yuri Filipchenko. It is a combination of the Greek word "makros" meaning "large" and the Latin word "evolutio" meaning "unfolding".
Definition
Macroevolution refers to the large-scale evolutionary changes that occur over long periods of time, leading to the emergence of new species and higher taxonomic groups. This includes the processes of speciation, extinction, and adaptive radiation.
Related Terms
- Speciation: The evolutionary process by which populations evolve to become distinct species.
- Extinction: The termination of a species or group of species.
- Adaptive Radiation: The process in which organisms diversify rapidly from an ancestral species into a multitude of new forms.
- Microevolution: Evolutionary change within a species or small group of organisms, especially over a short period.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Macroevolution
- Wikipedia's article - Macroevolution
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski