The Mutation Theory

work by Vries

Also known as: “Die Mutationstheorie”

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July 1, 2026

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The Mutation Theory, advanced by Dutch botanist Hugo de Vries in the early 20th century, proposed that new species arise from sudden, unexpected alterations in traits, a concept known as mutation. This idea contrasted with Darwinism's gradual accumulation of variation, suggesting instead that species could emerge in a single leap. De Vries observed this phenomenon in evening primroses, noting offspring that differed significantly from their parents. His work, detailed in The Mutation Theory, aimed to explain evolutionary gaps in the fossil record by positing that variations themselves are discontinuous, leading to the rapid formation of new species. This theory influenced later ideas like punctuated equilibrium.12

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mutation theory
… in his Die Mutationstheorie (1901–03; The Mutation Theory), mutation theory joined two seemingly opposed traditions of evolutionary thought. First, its practitioners, often referred to as mutationists, accepted the primary contention of saltationist theory, which argued that new species are produced rapidly through discontinuous transformations. Saltationist theory contradicted Darwinism, which held…
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… in his Die Mutationstheorie (1901–03; The Mutation Theory), mutation theory joined two seemingly opposed traditions of evolutionary thought. First, its practitioners, often referred to as mutationists, accepted the primary contention of saltationist theory, which argued that new species are produced rapidly through discontinuous transformations. Saltationist theory contradicted Darwinism, which held…
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Hugo de Vries
…in his Die Mutationstheorie (1901–03; The Mutation Theory), led him to begin a program of plant breeding in 1892, and eight years later he drew up the same laws of heredity that Mendel had. While surveying literature on the subject, de Vries discovered the Austrian monk’s paper of 1866 on…
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…in his Die Mutationstheorie (1901–03; The Mutation Theory), led him to begin a program of plant breeding in 1892, and eight years later he drew up the same laws of heredity that Mendel had. While surveying literature on the subject, de Vries discovered the Austrian monk’s paper of 1866 on…
Read More