The spelling of "bathmic evolution" can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as "bæθmɪk ɛvəluːʃən." The "bathmic" part is pronounced with the "æ" sound similar to "cat," while the "th" sound is aspirated. The "m" sound is pronounced as usual, followed by a shorter "ɪ" sound. The "k" sound is also aspirated, and the word ends with a long "u," then "ʃən" for "evolution." This spelling and pronunciation are essential for accurate communication in scientific and academic communities.
Bathmic evolution, also known as power law evolution, refers to a type of evolutionary process where changes occur in a stepwise or incremental manner, rather than following a continuous or gradual path. The term "bathmic" comes from the Greek word "bathos" meaning "depth" or "step" and reflects the stepwise nature of this process.
In bathmic evolution, the rate or magnitude of change is not constant but varies throughout the process, often following a power law distribution. This means that small changes occur more frequently, while larger changes are less common. The patterns observed in bathmic evolution can be described mathematically as a series of discrete steps or jumps.
This concept can be applied to a wide range of evolutionary phenomena, including biological evolution, cultural evolution, and technological advancements. For example, in biological evolution, the concept of punctuated equilibrium is often associated with bathmic evolution. It suggests that species undergo relatively long periods of stability or little change, punctuated by rapid bursts of evolutionary activity.
Bathmic evolution challenges the traditional view of continuous and gradual change, suggesting that significant transformations can occur through discrete and stepwise processes. It emphasizes the importance of these sporadic and abrupt changes in shaping the course of evolution and understanding the dynamics of various complex systems.
Orthogenic evolution, a change of type due to something inherent in the constitution, inde-dependent of the environment.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.