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Phenotypic Integration Patterns Support an Account of Homology as a Manifestation of Evolvability

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Abstract

Data gleaned from the study of phenotypic integration provide important empirical support for a recent theoretical advance in evolutionary developmental biology, in which the phenomenon of homology is construed as an aspect of evolvability. The presence of highly conserved phenotypic covariation structure among distantly related taxa suggests the action of developmental processes that allow the generation of variation while maintaining stability and functionality.

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Acknowledgements

I thank, I. Brigandt, J. Boughner, M. Ereshefsky, A. Russell, and two anonymous reviewers for discussion and insightful comments on an earlier draft, although they may not necessarily agree with the arguments presented here. The Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research provided financial support.

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  1. Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Canada, AB T2N 4N1

    Heather A. Jamniczky

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  1. Heather A. Jamniczky
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Correspondence to Heather A. Jamniczky.

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Jamniczky, H.A. Phenotypic Integration Patterns Support an Account of Homology as a Manifestation of Evolvability. Evol Biol 35, 312–316 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11692-008-9039-2

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