1. plural of epigenesis; the biological theory that an organism develops from an undifferentiated egg or embryo through gradual differentiation and growth of new structures
Usage: biology; historical term; largely superseded by modern developmental biology
2. plural of epigenesis; in modern genetics, the study of heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve changes to the underlying DNA sequence
Usage: biology; contemporary usage

Examples

• Early biologists debated between preformation and epigeneses as explanations for how organisms develop.
• The study of epigeneses has revealed how environmental factors can influence gene expression.
• Modern epigeneses research shows that identical twins can develop different traits due to epigenetic changes.
• Epigeneses involves the activation and silencing of genes during development without altering DNA.
• Scientists investigating epigeneses have discovered mechanisms like DNA methylation and histone modification.