Polygenesis vs. Monogenesis — What's the Difference?

Development from more than one source.

Development from a single source, such as a cell, an ancestor, or a language.

The genesis of a species from more than one ancestor.

(anthropology) The theory that mankind originated with a single ancestor or ancestral couple.

(biology) The theory that living organisms originate in cells or embryos of different kinds, instead of coming from a single cell; as opposed to monogenesis.

(linguistics) The theory that all languages, or a particular set of languages, originated from a single source.

(linguistics) The theory that languages developed independently in different places at different periods, as opposed to originating from a single source.

Development of the ovum from a parent like itself.

The emergence from multiple causes or origins.

, which involves only one parent.

The theory that living organisms originate in cells or embryos of different kinds, instead of coming from a single cell; - opposed to monogenesis.

The emergence from a single cause or origin.

Oneness of origin; esp. (Biol.), development of all beings in the universe from a single cell; - opposed to polygenesis. Called also monism.

That form of reproduction which requires but one parent, as in reproduction by fission or in the formation of buds, etc., which drop off and form new individuals; asexual reproduction.

The direct development of an embryo, without metamorphosis, into an organism similar to the parent organism; - opposed to metagenesis.

Asexual reproduction by the production and release of spores