In hematology, the theory that blood cells are derived from several different stem cells, depending on the particular cell type. SYN: polyphyletic theory. [poly- + G. phyle, tribe]
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poly·phy·le·tism .päl-i-'fī-lə-.tiz-əm n
1) POLYPHYLETIC THEORY
2) derivation from more than one ancestral line
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poly·phy·le·tism (pol″e-fiґlə-tiz-əm) polyphyletic theory; see under theory.Medical dictionary. 2011.