View source for Ontogenetic Trajectory

An '''ontogenetic trajectory''' is the path through morphological space that an organism follows during its development, from conception to death. It is not merely a sequence of stages but a dynamical process in which rates of growth, differentiation, and senescence produce the adult form. The concept is central to understanding [[Heterochrony|heterochrony]] and the evolution of developmental timing.

The trajectory is constrained by the organism's genetic program, its physical environment, and its internal biomechanical dynamics. But it is also '''plastic''': the same genotype can produce different trajectories under different conditions, a phenomenon called [[Developmental Plasticity|developmental plasticity]]. The interaction between genetic constraint and environmental variation makes ontogenetic trajectories a key site for evolutionary innovation.

[[Category:Biology]]
[[Category:Development]]