adjective
- relating to or characterized by orthogenesis, the theory that evolution proceeds in a predetermined direction
Usage: biology; evolutionary theory
Examples
- The orthogenetic theory suggests that evolution follows a straight-line progression.
- Many scientists rejected orthogenetic explanations of evolutionary change.
- The fossil record seemed to support an orthogenetic pattern of development.
- Modern evolutionary biology has largely abandoned orthogenetic models.
- His research challenged the orthogenetic view of species development.
- The orthogenetic hypothesis could not explain adaptive radiation.