Difference between revisions of "Metamorphosis"
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Scientific usage of the term is exclusive, and is not applied to general aspects of cell growth, including rapid growth spurts. [[References]] to "metamorphosis" in mammals are imprecise and only colloquial, but historically [[idealist]] [[ideas]] of [[transformation]] and monadology, as in Goethe's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metamorphosis_of_Plants Metamorphosis of Plants], influenced the development of [[ideas]] of [[evolution]]. | Scientific usage of the term is exclusive, and is not applied to general aspects of cell growth, including rapid growth spurts. [[References]] to "metamorphosis" in mammals are imprecise and only colloquial, but historically [[idealist]] [[ideas]] of [[transformation]] and monadology, as in Goethe's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metamorphosis_of_Plants Metamorphosis of Plants], influenced the development of [[ideas]] of [[evolution]]. | ||
==Etymology== | ==Etymology== | ||
| − | The word "metamorphosis" derives from Greek μεταμόρφωσις, "transformation, transforming"[1], from μετα- (meta-), "change" + μορφή (morphe) "form". | + | The word "metamorphosis" derives from Greek μεταμόρφωσις, "transformation, transforming"[1], from μετα- (meta-), "change" + μορφή (morphe) "form".[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metamorphosis] |
[[Category: Biology]] | [[Category: Biology]] | ||
Revision as of 15:49, 7 December 2009
Metamorphosis is a biological process by which an animal physically develops after birth or hatching, involving a conspicuous and relatively abrupt change in the animal's body structure through cell growth and differentiation. Some insects, amphibians, mollusks, crustaceans, Cnidarians, echinoderms and tunicates undergo metamorphosis, which is usually (but not always) accompanied by a change of habitat or behavior.
Scientific usage of the term is exclusive, and is not applied to general aspects of cell growth, including rapid growth spurts. References to "metamorphosis" in mammals are imprecise and only colloquial, but historically idealist ideas of transformation and monadology, as in Goethe's Metamorphosis of Plants, influenced the development of ideas of evolution.
Etymology
The word "metamorphosis" derives from Greek μεταμόρφωσις, "transformation, transforming"[1], from μετα- (meta-), "change" + μορφή (morphe) "form".[1]
