Lexic.us

Definition of Neoteny

1. Noun. An evolutionary trend to be born earlier so that development is cut off at an earlier stage and juvenile characteristics are retained in adults of the species.

Definition of Neoteny

1. Noun. (biology) The retention of juvenile characteristics in the adult. ¹

2. Noun. (biology) The sexual maturity of an organism still in its larval stage. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Neoteny

1. attainment of sexual maturity in the larval stage [n -NIES] : NEOTENIC [adj]

Medical Definition of Neoteny

1. The persistence in the reproductively mature adult of characters usually associated with the immature organism. This entry appears with permission from the Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology (11 Mar 2008)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Neoteny

Literary usage of Neoteny

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Journal of General Physiology by Society of General Physiologists, Rockefeller Institute, Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research (1920)
"In my attempts to produce neoteny in the larvae of salamanders, however, ... While in the salamander larva? neoteny is brought about without the slightest ..."

2. Science by American Association for the Advancement of Science (1917)
"This investigation throws light upon the problem of neoteny. We can with perfect justice say that we are here dealing with a case of artificially produced ..."

3. The Cambridge Natural History by Arthur Everett Shipley, Sidney Frederic Harmer (1901)
"Partial neoteny, namely, simple retardation of the metamorphosis beyond the normal ... Weismann tried to explain neoteny as cases of reversion to atavistic ..."

4. The Encyclopædia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, Literature and by Hugh Chisholm (1911)
"... but in this case (neoteny) it is doubtful whether further development may occur in the larva. A very similar phenomenon is found in certain insect ..."

5. Dwarf Mistletoes: Biology, Pathology, and Systematics by Frank G. Hawksworth, Delbert Wiens (1998)
"Carlquist (1962) called attention to the significance of neoteny in plants. Within Arceuthobium the evolutionary trend towards a herbaceous habit has ..."

6. A Manual of Zoology by Richard Hertwig (1912)
"neoteny.—Occasionally the gonads of an indirectly developing animal become mature before the metamorphosis is complete, and as a result development is ..."

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