Article
Article
Symmorphosis
Article By:
Weibel, Ewald R. Maurice E. Muller Foundation, Bern, Switzerland.
Last reviewed:June 2020
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.757386
A theory of structural design of biological organisms that postulates that structure is quantitatively matched to functional demand as a result of regulated morphogenesis during growth and maintenance. Symmorphosis is a theory of economic design. In biological organisms, all functions depend on structural design, specifically on the morphometric characteristics of the organs. In general terms, the larger the structure, the greater the functional capacity. A central postulate of symmorphosis, as a theory of economic design, is that differences in the functional demand on an organ require quantitative adjustments of its structural design parameters in order to match functional capacity to (maximal) functional demand.
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