heteronomous
- adjective
- /ˌhɛtəˈrɒnəməs/
- Specialized
- The crab's heteronomous limbs allow it to perform a variety of specialized tasks.
Examples
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Some insects are heteronomous, with legs and wings that serve different purposes on each segment.
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Many arthropods exhibit heteronomous body plans that enhance their adaptability.
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Scientists study heteronomous segmentation to understand how animal bodies evolve specialized functions.
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The heteronomous segments of the insect body allow for specialized functions.
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Some insects are heteronomous, with legs and wings that serve different purposes on each segment.
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The crab's heteronomous limbs allow it to perform a variety of specialized tasks.
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Many arthropods exhibit heteronomous body plans that enhance their adaptability.
Synonyms
Not the same type of cell or structure
Parts that are different in form and evolved separately, like butterfly and bird wings
Not having the same origin or form as something similar, for example a bird wing and a bat wing
Surface Forms
Morphology
heteronomous = heteronomy (semi-transparent) = hetero + nom + ous
The suffix '-ous' forms adjectives, but the specialized biological meaning may not be directly inferred from 'heteronomy'.
Etymology
Heteronomous comes from the parts hetero- meaning 'different' and nomos meaning 'law' or 'rule', a bit like heterogeneous and autonomous. So when an animal has body segments or limbs that follow 'different rules' and do different jobs along its body, those parts are heteronomous.