Year: 2022
Type: article
Abstract: Serial homology, i.e., homology between repetitive structures in the same individual organism, is a debated concept in evolutionary developmental biology. The central question is the evolutionary interpretation of “sameness” in the context of the same body. This essay provides a synthetic analysis of the main issues involved in the debate, connecting conceptual problems with current experimental research. It is argued that a concept of serial homology that is not of the all-or-nothing kind can smooth several theoretical inconsistencies, while being more in line with what we know about evolutionary change and the way we investigate it.
Source: Biological Theory
Author: Giuseppe Fusco
Institution: University of Padua
Language: English
Subfield: History and Philosophy of Science
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $2,890
Funder: Università degli Studi di Padova
OpenAlex ID: W4220714928