Body plan

Body plan refers to the blueprint for the way the body of an organism is laid out. This includes the arrangement of physical features, the number of body segments, and the number of limbs. The body plan is determined during the developmental stage of an organism and is largely influenced by its genetic makeup.

Overview

The body plan of an organism is a key aspect of its morphology, which is the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features. This includes aspects such as physical form and structure, microscopic and macroscopic structure, and the organization of cells, tissues and organs.

Development of Body Plan

The development of the body plan is a complex process that involves a series of cell divisions, cell differentiations, and morphogenetic movements. These processes are regulated by the genetic code of the organism, which is stored in its DNA.

Types of Body Plans

There are several types of body plans that are commonly found in the animal kingdom. These include:

• Radially symmetric body plans, such as those found in starfish and jellyfish. These organisms can be divided into similar halves in multiple planes.
• Bilaterally symmetric body plans, such as those found in humans and most other mammals. These organisms can be divided into two identical halves in only one plane.
• Asymmetric body plans, such as those found in sponges. These organisms cannot be divided into two identical halves in any plane.

Evolution of Body Plans

The evolution of body plans is a major topic in evolutionary biology. It is believed that the diversity of body plans found in the animal kingdom is a result of natural selection, which favors those body plans that are most successful in a given environment.

See Also

• Morphology (biology)
• Cell division
• Cell differentiation
• Morphogenesis
• Genetic code
• DNA
• Radial symmetry
• Bilateral symmetry
• Asymmetry
• Evolutionary biology
• Natural selection