HETEROCHRONIC Meaning and
Definition
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Heterochronic is an adjective that describes something related to or involving different times or time intervals. The term is typically used in various scientific fields such as biology, paleontology, and evolutionary studies.
In biology and paleontology, heterochronic refers to changes in the timing or rate of development or maturation of an organism or its organs. This concept explores how variations in the timing of developmental events can ultimately lead to structural differences. For instance, heterochronic shifts in development may cause certain body parts to mature at a different rate or be present at a different stage compared to the typical pattern. These differences can have significant effects on an organism's morphology and overall phenotype.
In the context of evolutionary studies, heterochronic processes contribute to the diversification of species over time. Changes in the timing of developmental events can result in new traits or variations, leading to the emergence of new forms or adaptations. This form of heterochrony is integral to studying the evolutionary history and understanding the relationships between different organisms.
Overall, heterochronic refers to the study of variations in the time-related aspects of development and evolution, emphasizing the significance of temporal dynamics in shaping biological processes across different organisms and their evolutionary trajectories.
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A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for HETEROCHRONIC
- heterochronac
- heterochronmc
- heterochronhc
- heterochronik
- heterochronig
- heterochronib
- h eterochronic
- he terochronic
- het erochronic
- hete rochronic
- heter ochronic
- hetero chronic
- heteroc hronic
- heteroch ronic
- heterochr onic
- heterochro nic
- heterochron ic
- heterochroni c
Etymology of HETEROCHRONIC
The word "heterochronic" is formed by combining two Greek roots - "hetero" and "chronos".
The root "hetero" (ἕτερος) means "other" or "different". It indicates diversity or dissimilarity.
The root "chronos" (χρόνος) means "time". It refers to the concept of time, duration, or sequence.
When these roots are combined, "heterochronic" is formed to describe something that pertains to or involves differences in time or the duration of various events or phenomena. It is commonly used in the fields of biology, linguistics, and anthropology, among others, to denote variations or differences in timing or temporal aspects.
