doctrine of descent

British  

noun

1. the theory that animals and plants arose by descent from previously existing organisms; theory of evolution

---

Example Sentences

De Vries' theory in no way affects the doctrine of descent, nor does it take away from the importance of natural selection in fixing the variations.

From Sociology and Modern Social Problems by Ellwood, Charles A. (Charles Abram)

These differences occur even with reference to the fundamental doctrine generally adhered to, the doctrine of descent.

From Naturalism And Religion by Otto, Rudolf

As Oscar Schmidt justly observes—"Perhaps ninety-nine per cent. of all living, or rather of all working zoologists, are convinced by inductive methods of the truth of the doctrine of descent."

From Freedom in Science and Teaching. from the German of Ernst Haeckel by Huxley, Thomas Henry

To establish convincingly the doctrine of descent with modification as a theory of species, it was necessary for him to develop the theory of adaptation which we now know as natural selection.

From Popular Science Monthly Oct, Nov, Dec, 1915 — Volume 86 by Anonymous

Viewed in this way, variability within the specific limits becomes in itself one of the strongest arguments against the doctrine of descent with modification as a mode of origination of new species.

From The Origin of the World According to Revelation and Science by Dawson, John William