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Phenotypic accommodation: adaptive innovation due to developmental plasticity.
1Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, Costa Rica, Centroamerica. mjwe@sent.com
Summary
Phenotypic accommodation, an adaptive adjustment without genetic change, aids evolution by preparing novel forms. This developmental process, not random, provides a foundation for Darwinian evolution and natural selection.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Evolutionary biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Phenotypic accommodation involves adaptive adjustments in phenotype without genetic alteration.
- It plays a crucial role in facilitating the evolution of novel morphologies.
- This process can be triggered by mutations or environmental factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the role of phenotypic accommodation in evolutionary processes.
- To understand how developmental responses contribute to novel forms.
- To explore the connection between phenotypic accommodation and Darwinian evolution.
Main Methods:
- The study focuses on conceptualizing phenotypic accommodation based on existing biological principles.
- It analyzes the developmental basis of morphological innovation.
- It examines the relationship between phenotypic accommodation and natural selection.
Main Results:
- Phenotypic accommodation provides a non-genetic mechanism for adapting to new inputs during development.
- Novel morphologies arise from ancestral developmental pathways, not the inducing factor itself.
- Accommodated phenotypes are not random but reflect prior functionality, guiding adaptive evolution.
Conclusions:
- Phenotypic accommodation is a critical initial step in Darwinian evolution.
- It alleviates negative effects of change and directs evolution towards adaptive novelty.
- This process highlights the interplay between development, environment, and natural selection in shaping phenotypes.