Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

{

(-jĕn′ē̍-sĭs)

(pō̍-lĭj′ē̍-ny̆)

, }

Noun.

[

Poly-

genesis

, or root of Gr.

γίγνεσθαι

to be born.]

(Biol.)

The theory that living organisms originate in cells or embryos of different kinds, instead of coming from a single cell; – opposed to

monogenesis

polygeny ‎(uncountable)