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5. On the principles of the solution to a problem of growth and form

On the principles of the solution to a problem of growth and form

Passekov V.P.

Institution of Russian Academy of Sciences Dorodnicyn Computing Centre RAS, Moscow

Passekov V.P., e-mail: pass4@mail.ru

Abstract

In this paper, the principles of definition for the relation of the growth (size) and the form of an organism on the basis of the regularities of its trait coadaptation (coordination) are considered. It is supposed that traits are determined by the general (responsible for the coordination) factors and the specific ones. The regularities of simultaneous trait growth are in the focus of interest since a form is determined by trait values. The trait coordination is induced by the general factor of heterogeneous growth and generates the dependency between organism size and form. In uncontrolled individual variability on population level, this relation is manifested as statistical dependencies between traits. Applications of biometric methods for estimation the growth laws on the basis of such data are critically analyzed. The law of heterogeneous growth of an individual is shown to be wrongly reflected by statistical characteristics of linear dependencies between traits on population level (in the universe), in particular, by regression and the principal components. The same is true with respect to the statistical analysis of allometry relations. The coadaptation and the dependence of a form on size are determined by the line of coordinated trait changes induced by the general factor of growth or through indices. Under the dependence of a trait complex on several general and specific factors, the coordination of the complex as a whole is suggested to be considered as matching of trait values to some values of the general factors under the fixed specific ones. Geometrically, it means that if the number of the general factors is less than the number of traits then under the fixed specific factors the coadapted trait values lie on some surface of coordination in the trait space. This surface can be described by means of indices. The presentation is focused on methodology and principles of the solution of the problem of growth and form, not on the recipes of data processing.

Keywords

growth, a problem of size and form, allometry, coadaptation of organism traits, indices, biometric analysis

Цит.: Passekov V.P. On the principles of the solution to a problem of growth and form // Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin (Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seria XXIII. Antropologia), 2012; 1/2012; с. 17-28