Asymmetry Across all Life: Methods, Theory, and Applications

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Symmetry is ubiquitous in the living world. Various types of symmetries are present in all major groups of organisms (see figures 1-6 at www.mdpi.com/2073-8994/2/2/466/pdf). The extent to which the average individual departs from perfect symmetry reflects a population’s state of adaptation and coadaptation and increases under both environmental and genetic stress. John H. Graham and colleagues review the theoretical, methodological, and experimental aspects of asymmetries in diverse organisms across all of life.

Mount Carmel, Haifa, March 31, 2010 — Symmetry is ubiquitous in the living world. Spherical, circular, dihedral, rotational, mirror, translational, helical, and fractal symmetries are present in all major groups of organisms (see figures 1-6 at http://www.mdpi.com/2073-8994/2/2/466/pdf)

The extent to which the average individual departs from perfect symmetry reflects a population’s state of adaptation and coadaptation and increases under both environmental and genetic stress, though responses are often inconsistent. These departures from perfect symmetry are called fluctuating asymmetry.

John H. Graham and colleagues review the theoretical, methodological, and experimental aspects of fluctuating asymmetries in diverse organisms across all of life. In the process, they present examples from the literature, and from their own research at “Evolution Canyon” and elsewhere.

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