preformationist
/ˌpriːfɔːrˈmeɪʃənɪst/
noun
- A person who believes that all living things develop from tiny, fully formed versions of themselves that exist from the beginning (a historical biological theory).
- The preformationist argued that the miniature adult was already present in the egg.
- In the 18th century, a preformationist would reject the idea of gradual development.
- Modern biologists no longer agree with the preformationist view of embryonic growth.
adjective
- Relating to the belief that organisms develop from preexisting miniature forms.
- She studied preformationist ideas in her history of science class.
- Preformationist thinking influenced early debates about reproduction.
- The preformationist theory was popular before the discovery of epigenesis.