hide
Free keywords:
-
Abstract:
Developmental constraints have been defined as “biases on the production of variant phenotypes or limitations on phenotypic variability caused by the structure, character, composition, or dynamics of developmental systems” (Maynard Smith et al. 1985). The term has been widely discussed, but is far from being generally accepted. One reason might be that it has so far not been possible to test experimentally the concept of a constraint. Experimental tests are difficult because the hypothesis is supported only by the failure or the limitation of seeing phenotypic variation, which can always hypothetically be explained by stabilizing selection. This article suggests an approach to study the potential molecular basis for developmental constraints.
