Morphology in biology is the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features.
This includes aspects of the outward appearance (shape, structure, color, pattern, size), i.e. external morphology (or ), as well as the form and structure of internal parts like bones and organs, i.e. internal morphology (or anatomy). This is in contrast to physiology, which deals primarily with function. Morphology is a branch of life science dealing with the study of the gross structure of an organism or taxon and its component parts.
History
The etymology of the word "morphology" is from the Ancient Greek μορφή (morphḗ), meaning "form", and λόγος (lógos), meaning "word, study, research".
While the concept of form in biology, opposed to function, dates back to Aristotle (see Aristotle's biology), the field of morphology was developed by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1790) and independently by the German anatomist and physiologist Karl Friedrich Burdach (1800).
Among other important theorists of morphology are Lorenz Oken, Georges Cuvier, Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, Richard Owen, Carl Gegenbaur and Ernst Haeckel.
In 1830, Cuvier and Saint-Hilaire engaged in a famous debate, which is said to exemplify the two major deviations in biological thinking at the time – whether animal structure was due to function or evolution.
Divisions of morphology
- Comparative morphology is an analysis of the patterns of the locus of structures within the body plan of an organism, and forms the basis of taxonomical categorization.
- is the study of the relationship between the structure and function of morphological features.
- Experimental morphology is the study of the effects of external factors upon the morphology of organisms under experimental conditions, such as the effect of genetic mutation.
- Anatomy is a "branch of morphology that deals with the structure of organisms".
- Molecular morphology is a rarely used term, usually referring to the superstructure of polymers such as fiber formation or to larger composite assemblies. The term is commonly not applied to the spatial structure of individual molecules.
- Gross morphology refers to the collective structures of an organism as a whole as a general description of the form and structure of an organism, taking into account all of its structures without specifying an individual structure.
Morphology and classification
Most taxa differ morphologically from other taxa. Typically, closely related taxa differ much less than more distantly related ones, but there are exceptions to this. Cryptic species are species which look very similar, or perhaps even outwardly identical, but are reproductively isolated. Conversely, sometimes unrelated taxa acquire a similar appearance as a result of convergent evolution or even mimicry. In addition, there can be morphological differences within a species, such as in Apoica flavissima where queens are significantly smaller than workers. A further problem with relying on morphological data is that what may appear morphologically to be two distinct species may in fact be shown by DNA analysis to be a single species. The significance of these differences can be examined through the use of allometric engineering in which one or both species are manipulated to phenocopy the other species.
A step relevant to the evaluation of morphology between traits/features within species, includes an assessment of the terms: homology and homoplasy. Homology between features indicates that those features have been derived from a common ancestor. Alternatively, homoplasy between features describes those that can resemble each other, but derive independently via parallel or convergent evolution.
3D cell morphology: classification
The invention and development of microscopy enabled the observation of 3-D cell morphology with both high spatial and temporal resolution. The dynamic processes of this cell morphology which are controlled by a complex system play an important role in varied important biological processes, such as immune and invasive responses.
See also
- Comparative anatomy
- Computational anatomy
- Insect morphology
- Morphometrics
- Neuromorphology
- Phenetics
- Phenotype
- Phenotypic plasticity
- Plant morphology
References
- "Morphology Definition of Morphology by Oxford Dictionary on Lexico.com also meaning of Morphology". Lexico DictionariesEnglish. Archived from the original on March 5, 2020.
- Bailly, Anatole (1981-01-01). Abrégé du dictionnaire grec français. Paris: Hachette. ISBN 2010035283. OCLC 461974285.
- Bailly, Anatole. "Greek-french dictionary online". www.tabularium.be. Retrieved 2020-02-11.
- Mägdefrau, Karl (1992). Geschichte der Botanik [History of Botany] (2 ed.). Jena: Gustav Fischer Verlag. ISBN 3-437-20489-0.
- Richards, R. J. (2008). A Brief History of Morphology. In: The Tragic Sense of Life. Ernst Haeckel and the Struggle over Evolutionary Thought. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
- Di Gregorio, M. A. (2005). From Here to Eternity: Ernst Haeckel and Scientific Faith. Gottingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht.
- Appel, Toby (1987). The Cuvier-Geoffroy Debate: French Biology in the Decades Before Darwin Archived 2022-12-08 at the Wayback Machine. New York: Oxford University Press.
- "Anatomy – Definition of anatomy by Merriam-Webster". merriam-webster.com. 23 September 2023.
- "Polymer Morphology". ceas.uc.edu/. Retrieved 2010-06-24.
- Lincoln, Roger J. (1998). A dictionary of ecology, evolution, and systematics. Boxshall, Geoffrey Allan.; Clark, P. F. (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 052143842X. OCLC 36011744.
- Pough, F. Harvey (2009). Vertebrate life. Janis, Christine M.; Heiser, John B. (8th ed.). San Francisco: Benjamin Cummings. ISBN 978-0321545763. OCLC 184829042.
- Doyle, A. D.; Petrie, R. J.; Kutys, M. L.; Yamada, K. M. (2013). "Dimensions in Cell Migration". Current Opinion in Cell Biology. 25 (5): 642–649. doi:10.1016/j.ceb.2013.06.004. PMC 3758466. PMID 23850350.
- Dufour, Alexandre Cecilien; Liu, Tzu-Yu; Ducroz, Christel; Tournemenne, Robin; Cummings, Beryl; Thibeaux, Roman; Guillen, Nancy; Hero, Alfred O.; Olivo-Marin, Jean-Christophe (2015). "Signal Processing Challenges in Quantitative 3-D Cell Morphology: More than meets the eye". IEEE Signal Processing Magazine. 32 (1): 30–40. Bibcode:2015ISPM...32...30D. doi:10.1109/MSP.2014.2359131. S2CID 12630747.
External links
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Media related to Morphology (biology) at Wikimedia Commons
Morphology in biology is the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features Morphology of a male skeleton shrimp Caprella mutica This includes aspects of the outward appearance shape structure color pattern size i e external morphology or as well as the form and structure of internal parts like bones and organs i e internal morphology or anatomy This is in contrast to physiology which deals primarily with function Morphology is a branch of life science dealing with the study of the gross structure of an organism or taxon and its component parts HistoryThe etymology of the word morphology is from the Ancient Greek morfh morphḗ meaning form and logos logos meaning word study research While the concept of form in biology opposed to function dates back to Aristotle see Aristotle s biology the field of morphology was developed by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1790 and independently by the German anatomist and physiologist Karl Friedrich Burdach 1800 Among other important theorists of morphology are Lorenz Oken Georges Cuvier Etienne Geoffroy Saint Hilaire Richard Owen Carl Gegenbaur and Ernst Haeckel In 1830 Cuvier and Saint Hilaire engaged in a famous debate which is said to exemplify the two major deviations in biological thinking at the time whether animal structure was due to function or evolution Divisions of morphologyComparative morphology is an analysis of the patterns of the locus of structures within the body plan of an organism and forms the basis of taxonomical categorization is the study of the relationship between the structure and function of morphological features Experimental morphology is the study of the effects of external factors upon the morphology of organisms under experimental conditions such as the effect of genetic mutation Anatomy is a branch of morphology that deals with the structure of organisms Molecular morphology is a rarely used term usually referring to the superstructure of polymers such as fiber formation or to larger composite assemblies The term is commonly not applied to the spatial structure of individual molecules Gross morphology refers to the collective structures of an organism as a whole as a general description of the form and structure of an organism taking into account all of its structures without specifying an individual structure Morphology and classificationMost taxa differ morphologically from other taxa Typically closely related taxa differ much less than more distantly related ones but there are exceptions to this Cryptic species are species which look very similar or perhaps even outwardly identical but are reproductively isolated Conversely sometimes unrelated taxa acquire a similar appearance as a result of convergent evolution or even mimicry In addition there can be morphological differences within a species such as in Apoica flavissima where queens are significantly smaller than workers A further problem with relying on morphological data is that what may appear morphologically to be two distinct species may in fact be shown by DNA analysis to be a single species The significance of these differences can be examined through the use of allometric engineering in which one or both species are manipulated to phenocopy the other species A step relevant to the evaluation of morphology between traits features within species includes an assessment of the terms homology and homoplasy Homology between features indicates that those features have been derived from a common ancestor Alternatively homoplasy between features describes those that can resemble each other but derive independently via parallel or convergent evolution 3D cell morphology classificationThe invention and development of microscopy enabled the observation of 3 D cell morphology with both high spatial and temporal resolution The dynamic processes of this cell morphology which are controlled by a complex system play an important role in varied important biological processes such as immune and invasive responses See alsoComparative anatomy Computational anatomy Insect morphology Morphometrics Neuromorphology Phenetics Phenotype Phenotypic plasticity Plant morphologyReferences Morphology Definition of Morphology by Oxford Dictionary on Lexico com also meaning of Morphology Lexico DictionariesEnglish Archived from the original on March 5 2020 Bailly Anatole 1981 01 01 Abrege du dictionnaire grec francais Paris Hachette ISBN 2010035283 OCLC 461974285 Bailly Anatole Greek french dictionary online www tabularium be Retrieved 2020 02 11 Magdefrau Karl 1992 Geschichte der Botanik History of Botany 2 ed Jena Gustav Fischer Verlag ISBN 3 437 20489 0 Richards R J 2008 A Brief History of Morphology In The Tragic Sense of Life Ernst Haeckel and the Struggle over Evolutionary Thought Chicago University of Chicago Press Di Gregorio M A 2005 From Here to Eternity Ernst Haeckel and Scientific Faith Gottingen Vandenhoeck amp Ruprecht Appel Toby 1987 The Cuvier Geoffroy Debate French Biology in the Decades Before Darwin Archived 2022 12 08 at the Wayback Machine New York Oxford University Press Anatomy Definition of anatomy by Merriam Webster merriam webster com 23 September 2023 Polymer Morphology ceas uc edu Retrieved 2010 06 24 Lincoln Roger J 1998 A dictionary of ecology evolution and systematics Boxshall Geoffrey Allan Clark P F 2nd ed Cambridge Cambridge University Press ISBN 052143842X OCLC 36011744 Pough F Harvey 2009 Vertebrate life Janis Christine M Heiser John B 8th ed San Francisco Benjamin Cummings ISBN 978 0321545763 OCLC 184829042 Doyle A D Petrie R J Kutys M L Yamada K M 2013 Dimensions in Cell Migration Current Opinion in Cell Biology 25 5 642 649 doi 10 1016 j ceb 2013 06 004 PMC 3758466 PMID 23850350 Dufour Alexandre Cecilien Liu Tzu Yu Ducroz Christel Tournemenne Robin Cummings Beryl Thibeaux Roman Guillen Nancy Hero Alfred O Olivo Marin Jean Christophe 2015 Signal Processing Challenges in Quantitative 3 D Cell Morphology More than meets the eye IEEE Signal Processing Magazine 32 1 30 40 Bibcode 2015ISPM 32 30D doi 10 1109 MSP 2014 2359131 S2CID 12630747 External linksMedia related to Morphology biology at Wikimedia Commons
