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Phenotypic accommodation: adaptive innovation due to developmental plasticity.

Mary Jane West-Eberhard1

  • 1Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, Costa Rica, Centroamerica. mjwe@sent.com

Journal of Experimental Zoology. Part B, Molecular and Developmental Evolution
|September 15, 2005
PubMed
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.

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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.

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  • 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.