punctuated

Noun

A theory in evolutionary biology that suggests species evolve through long periods of relative stability (equilibrium) punctuated by short periods of rapid change.

ریشه

From the verb 'punctuate' (circa 1860) meaning 'to interrupt or intersperse with brief stops or pauses' + 'equilibrium' (late 16th century) meaning 'a state of balance'.

مثال

• Punctuated equilibrium challenges the traditional view of gradual evolution.
• According to the theory of punctuated equilibrium, species experience rapid bursts of change during speciation events.
• The concept of punctuated equilibrium was proposed by paleontologists Niles Eldredge and Stephen Jay Gould.