No relationship between vertebral column shifts and limb fluctuating asymmetry in human foetuses.

ABSTRACT: Disturbance from the normal developmental trajectory of a trait during growth-the so-called developmental instability-can be observed morphologically through phenodeviants and subtle deviations from perfect symmetry (fluctuating asymmetry). This study investigates the relationship between phenodeviance in the human vertebral column (as a result of axial patterning defects) and limb fluctuating asymmetry. Since both types of markers of developmental instability have been found associated with congenital abnormalities in humans, we anticipate a relationship between them if the concept of developmental instability, measured through either phenodeviants or asymmetry, would reflect an organism-wide process. Yet we did not find any support for this hypothesis. We argue that the vast differences

SUBMITTER: Ten Broek CMA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5470575 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature