preformation
nounUK /pɹiːfɔːˈmeɪʃ(ə)n/
Etymology From pre- + formation.
1
Prior formation.
2
Biology, Natural sciences Historical The theory that organisms are fully developed in the form of an egg or seed, and just increase in size (as opposed to epigenesis).
- Preformation, as even Aristotle spotted, merely postpones the problem, for how did the homunculus get its shape?1999, Matt Ridley, Genome, Harper Perennial, published 2004, page 174:
- Derived terms
- preformationary, preformationism, preformationist