heterochrony Definition
- 1a developmental change in the timing or rate of events, leading to differences in size, shape, and proportion of body parts between ancestors and descendants
- 2a change in the timing of developmental events during evolution that produces changes in size and shape of organisms
Using heterochrony: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "heterochrony" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
Heterochrony is a key mechanism of evolutionary change.
Example
The difference in the shape of the skull between humans and chimpanzees is due to heterochrony.
Example
Heterochrony can lead to the evolution of new structures or the loss of ancestral ones.
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Summary: heterochrony in Brief
Heterochrony [het-er-uh-kroh-nee] refers to a developmental change in the timing or rate of events, leading to differences in size, shape, and proportion of body parts between ancestors and descendants. It is a key mechanism of evolutionary change and can lead to the evolution of new structures or the loss of ancestral ones.
