panmixia

American  

[pan-mik-see-uh] / pænˈmɪk si ə /

Also panmixis

noun

Animal Behavior.

1. random mating of individuals within a population, the breeding individuals showing no tendency to choose partners with particular traits.

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panmixia British  

/ pænˈmɪksɪs, pænˈmiktik, pænˈmɪksɪə /

noun

1. (in population genetics) random mating within an interbreeding population

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Other Word Forms

• panmictic adjective

Etymology

Origin of panmixia

1885–90; pan- + Greek míx ( is ) mingling, mixing ( m ( e ) ig ( nýnai ) to mix + -sis -sis ) + -ia

Example Sentences

There is now no question in any quarter touching the fact that panmixia, or the cessation of selection, is a true cause of degeneration.

From Darwin, and After Darwin, Volume 2 Post-Darwinian Questions: Heredity and Utility by Romanes, George John

Here, then, we have three estimates of the amount of degeneration which can be produced by panmixia alone, where mere size or bulk of an organ is concerned—say, 3 to 5 per cent.,

From Darwin, and After Darwin, Volume 2 Post-Darwinian Questions: Heredity and Utility by Romanes, George John

The process of dwindling cannot therefore be explained as due to panmixia alone; we can only find a sufficient explanation in germinal selection.

From Darwin and Modern Science by Seward, A. C. (Albert Charles)

So with the eyes of cave animals, panmixia could only cause an imperfection of vision equal to the average of those variations which occurred, say, during a century before the animal entered the cave.

From Alfred Russel Wallace: Letters and Reminiscences, Vol. 2 by Marchant, James

My dear Mr. Poulton,—As to panmixia you have quite misunderstood my position.

From Alfred Russel Wallace: Letters and Reminiscences, Vol. 2 by Marchant, James