cladogenesis

[ klad-uh-jen-uh-sis, kley-duh- ]

noun

, Biology.

1. evolutionary change by the branching off of new species from common ancestral types.

Other Words From

• clad·o·ge·net·ic [klad-oh-j, uh, -, net, -ik, kley-doh-], adjective
• clado·ge·neti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of cladogenesis¹

1950–55; < German Kladogenese; clado-, -genesis

Example Sentences

They found that anagenesis increases with island isolation, and cladogenesis increases on larger, more isolated islands.

From Nature