biogenetic law

noun

: the theory of ontogenetic recapitulation

Examples of biogenetic law in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Take Haeckel’s pet theory, the biogenetic law, which stipulates that the development of each embryo in utero echoes the evolution of its remote ancestors. Christoph Irmscher, WSJ, 13 Apr. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'biogenetic law.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1874, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of biogenetic law was in 1874

Dictionary Entries Near biogenetic law

Cite this Entry

“Biogenetic law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biogenetic%20law. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

biogenetic law

noun
: a theory of development much disputed in biology: an organism passes through successive stages resembling the series of ancestral types from which it has descended so that the ontogeny of the individual is a recapitulation of the phylogeny of the group

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