Heterology (Noun)
Meaning
(biology) the lack of correspondence of apparently similar body parts.
Classification
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects.
Examples
- The heterology of the whale flippers and human arms highlights the concept of convergent evolution in different species.
- The developmental biologist examined the heterology between the limbs of vertebrates to better understand the mechanisms driving morphological diversification.
- Comparative anatomists are particularly interested in heterology as it can provide insights into the evolutionary pressures that shaped different organisms.
- Despite their superficial similarities, the wings of birds and insects exhibit marked heterology, reflecting distinct developmental and structural pathways.
- Heterology between mammalian forelimbs can be observed in the different bone structures and muscle arrangements present in various species.