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Updated: Jan 4, 2026
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Why Quantification Matters: Characterization of Phenotypes at the Drosophila Larval Neuromuscular Junction
Published on: May 12, 2016
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Modularity as a universal emergent property of biological traits
1Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, San Pedro, Costa Rica.
Summary
Modularity is a universal emergent property of organismic traits, arising from the phenotype's bounded responsiveness to genomic and environmental inputs. Its consequences, like evolvability, do not cause modularity itself.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Systems Biology
Background:
- Emergent properties arise from component interactions.
- Organismic traits exhibit varying degrees of modularity.
- Modularity influences trait evolvability and expression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To argue that modularity is a universal emergent property of organismic traits.
- To differentiate the causes of modularity from its consequences.
- To clarify the role of emergent properties in phenotypic innovation and evolution.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of biological organization.
- Review of existing theories on modularity and complexity.
- Argumentation based on the definition of emergent properties.
Main Results:
- Modularity stems from bounded phenotypic responsiveness to inputs.
- Evolvability and new trait combinations are consequences, not causes, of modularity.
- Emergent properties at multiple levels can lead to confusion in evolutionary discussions.
Conclusions:
- Modularity is a fundamental emergent property of phenotypes.
- Understanding emergent properties is key to evolutionary and developmental biology.
- Phenotypic sensitivity and emergent properties will be increasingly important in genomic studies.
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