Morphogenesis

MORPHOGENESIS, morphogeny, form formation, i.e., the process of development of organic structures (see Morphology): in this case, the historical development of form is designated as phylogenesis, while individual development is designated as ontogenesis. The study of phylogenetic and ontogenetic form formation constitutes the subject of comparative anatomy and embryology and is carried out by the method of description and comparison. The study of the regularities of form formation constitutes the subject of developmental mechanics. The basic method here is descriptive and, in particular, causal-analytical experiment (in the first case, observation under strictly defined conditions, in the second - the sequential elimination of certain developmental factors for the precise determination of their significance). The experimental study of the factors of evolution in their mutual connection and the experimental study of individual form formation (ontogenesis), which is the basis of historical form formation (phylogenesis), set as their task not only the scientific explanation of the regularities that distinguish living organisms from all the rest of nature, but also the mastery of form formation itself for its use by man. Questions of M., concerning the development of one or another histological structures, see Histogenesis.