homeosis
/ˌhɒmɪˈəʊsɪs
/(also homoeosis)
noun (plural homeoses /ˌhɒmɪˈəʊsiːz/) Biology
The replacement of part of one segment of an insect or other segmented animal by a structure characteristic of a different segment, especially through mutation.Genes identified by such mutations are called homeotic genes because when mutated they result in homeosis - the transformation of a whole segment or structure into another related one, as in the transformation of antenna to leg....
- This research on homeosis was intended to support both his view of genetic structure and his view of evolution.
- However, those experiments show only what morphological changes are possible to manipulate experimentally, not what actually happened in evolution, and one question is why homeosis would occur at all.
Derivatives
homeotic
- The evolution of homeotic mutants, according to Simpson, still depended on selection acting on populations of individuals.
- Thus major changes in body plan are possible over very short time intervals when homeotic, regulatory genes are involved.
- For example, it is becoming clear that co-option has played a critical role in evolution and the homeotic genes are not exempt in this regard.
Origin
Late 19th century: from Greek homoiōsis 'becoming like', from homoios 'like'.
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