What does punctuated equilibrium mean?

Definitions for punctuated equilibrium
punc·tu·at·ed equi·lib·ri·um

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word punctuated equilibrium.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. punctuated equilibrium, theory of punctuated equilibriumnoun

    a theory of evolution holding that evolutionary change in the fossil record came in fits and starts rather than in a steady process of slow change

Wiktionary

  1. punctuated equilibriumnoun

    A theory of evolution holding that evolutionary change tends to be characterized by long periods of stability, or equilibrium, punctuated by episodes of very fast development.

Wikipedia

  1. Punctuated equilibrium

    In evolutionary biology, punctuated equilibrium (also called punctuated equilibria) is a theory that proposes that once a species appears in the fossil record, the population will become stable, showing little evolutionary change for most of its geological history. This state of little or no morphological change is called stasis. When significant evolutionary change occurs, the theory proposes that it is generally restricted to rare and geologically rapid events of branching speciation called cladogenesis. Cladogenesis is the process by which a species splits into two distinct species, rather than one species gradually transforming into another. Punctuated equilibrium is commonly contrasted with phyletic gradualism, the idea that evolution generally occurs uniformly by the steady and gradual transformation of whole lineages (anagenesis).In 1972, paleontologists Niles Eldredge and Stephen Jay Gould published a landmark paper developing their theory and called it punctuated equilibria. Their paper built upon Ernst Mayr's model of geographic speciation, I. M. Lerner's theories of developmental and genetic homeostasis, and their own empirical research. Eldredge and Gould proposed that the degree of gradualism commonly attributed to Charles Darwin is virtually nonexistent in the fossil record, and that stasis dominates the history of most fossil species.

ChatGPT

  1. punctuated equilibrium

    Punctuated equilibrium is a theory or concept in evolutionary biology that proposes that species undergo long periods of relative stability or stasis, punctuated by short, rapid periods of evolutionary change. These periods of change often occur due to sudden environmental shifts or drastic changes in a species' habitat. The resulting significant changes in the genetic makeup of the species can lead to the formation of a new species, also known as speciation.

Wikidata

  1. Punctuated equilibrium

    Punctuated equilibrium is a hypothesis in evolutionary biology which proposes that most species will exhibit little net evolutionary change for most of their geological history, remaining in an extended state called stasis. When significant evolutionary change occurs, the hypothesis proposes that it is generally restricted to rare and rapid events of branching speciation called cladogenesis. Cladogenesis is the process by which a species splits into two distinct species, rather than one species gradually transforming into another. Punctuated equilibrium is commonly contrasted against the theory of phyletic gradualism, which states that evolution generally occurs uniformly and by the steady and gradual transformation of whole lineages. In this view, evolution is seen as generally smooth and continuous. In 1972, paleontologists Niles Eldredge and Stephen Jay Gould published a landmark paper developing this theory and called it punctuated equilibria. Their paper built upon Ernst Mayr's theory of geographic speciation, I. Michael Lerner's theories of developmental and genetic homeostasis, as well as their own empirical research. Eldredge and Gould proposed that the degree of gradualism commonly attributed to Charles Darwin is virtually nonexistent in the fossil record, and that stasis dominates the history of most fossil species.

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How to pronounce punctuated equilibrium?

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of punctuated equilibrium in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of punctuated equilibrium in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of punctuated equilibrium in a Sentence

  1. Stephen Jay Gould:

    “The literal record was not a hopelessly and imperfect fraction of truly insensible gradation within large populations but an accurate reflection of the actual process identified by evolutionists as the chief motor of biological change. The theory of punctuated equilibrium was, in its initial formulation, little more than this insight adumbrated.”


Translations for punctuated equilibrium

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

  • σηματοδοτημένη ισορροπίαGreek
  • punktert likevektNorwegian

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"punctuated equilibrium." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/punctuated+equilibrium>.

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    one of four connected cavities in the brain; is continuous with the central canal of the spinal cord and contains cerebrospinal fluid
    A cazique
    B ventricle
    C maculation
    D rung

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