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Introduction to Morphology | Introduction to Biology | www.biology-nation.com
Introduction to Morphology
In biology "morphology" is the study of the form, structure and configuration of an organism.[1][2] This includes aspects of the outward appearance (shape, structure, colour, pattern) as well as the form and structure of the internal parts like bones and organs. This is in contrast to physiology, which deals primarily with function.
Morphology is a branch of life science dealing with the study of gross structure of an organism or taxon and its component parts.
Term
The word "morphology" is from the Greek μορφ?, morphé = shape, form and λ?γος, lógos = word, study, research. The concept of morphology was developed by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1790) and independently by the German anatomist and physiologist de:Karl Friedrich Burdach (1800).
In English-speaking countries, the term "molecular morphology" has been used for some time for describing the shape of macro-molecules like RNA. In German-language countries the word "morphology" is used only for structures above the molecular level.
The term "gross morphology" is also in use, which refers to the prominent or principal aspects of an organism or taxon's morphology. A description of an organism's gross morphology would include, for example, its overall shape, overall colour, main markings etc. but not finer details.
Branches of Morphology
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In the field of "comparative morphology" patterns as well as characteristics of an orgamism group are studied, and if necessary, organisms are grouped into taxa on the basis of its morphological features.
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In "functional morphology", a structure is examined with regard to a certain function.
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In "experimental morphology" the development of an organism is studied under experimental conditions.
The field of morphology can be subdivided into two distinct branches.
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"Anatomy" is the study of the structure and internal organs of an organism.
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"Eidonomy" is the study of the external appearance of an organism. Whereas it was a leading field early in the history of biology, it is little studied anymore owing to the effects of convergent evolution. It thus yields little new information about organisms than anatomy, and therefore the external appearance of lifeforms is usually studied as part of general investigations in morphology, e.g. in the context of phylogenetic research.
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. A further problem with relying on morphological data is that what may appear, morphologically speaking, to be two distinct species, may in fact be shown by DNA analysis to be a single species.
See Also
References
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morphology_(biology)
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^ "Morphology". Biology-Online.org. http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Morphology. Retrieved 2009-04-09.
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^ "morphology". Encyclopædia Britannica. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/392797/morphology. Retrieved 2009-04-09.
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