Phylogeny is a complex process

There is such a thing as phylogeny. We will try to understand and give an accurate explanation of this phenomenon.

Unknown concept

How often have you heard about phylogeny? Surely many will suggest that phylogeny is biology, or, to be more precise, a definition used in biology. But, most likely, not every educated person knows exactly what will be discussed. A quick survey of ten people showed that:

- phylogeny is "something similar to photosynthesis" (as four people out of ten suggested);

- phylogenesis - mutation of living cells (two out of ten);

- phylogeny - a definition used in genetics and denoting the process of "the creation of new individuals" (one in ten);

- three more people at a question, that such phylogeny, with bewilderment have shrugged shoulders.

However, despite obvious ignorance in this issue, none of the respondents remained indifferent. Each of them wanted to know: what is phylogenesis?

Phylogeny (biology)

Phylogeny is an evolutionary development of any biological system. This term was introduced into scientific circulation by the German natural scientist and philosopher Ernst Heinrich Haeckel in 1866. This definition denotes changes that occur in the evolution of different species of the organic world. The basis for the emergence in biology of the field, engaged in the study of phylogenesis, was the "evolutionary doctrine" of the English naturalist and traveler Charles Robert Darwin.

After the concept of phylogeny appeared, other definitions different from the original were formed in science. Thus, Ivan Ivanovich Shmalgauzen, a Soviet biologist, understood by phylogenesis the historical series of ontogenies that had been selected, linked together as an "ancestor-descendant."

Phylogeny is a very long process, it lasts many millions of years. That is why it can not be an object of direct observation, and is studied by recreating and modeling the events and phenomena that have already occurred. At the same time, evolution is understood as a process in which the genetic line (ancestors) generates offshoots (descendants) with natural changes that occurred during this process or completely led to the disappearance of the species.

Ratio of phylogenesis and ontogeny

Ontogeny is a concept that entered into scientific usage even before the emergence of the doctrine of phylogeny and which denotes the personal formation of the organism and the totality of successive transformations undergone by it in the course of life. After the discovery in the middle of the XIX century by Friedrich Müller and Ernst Haeckel of the biogenetic law, phylogeny is studied in connection with ontogeny.

In accordance with this law, any ontogeny, in fact, is a short and rapid repetition of phylogenesis of this species. At the same time, ontogeny and phylogeny can be regarded as "private and general." The connection between these two concepts was also confirmed by Charles Darwin in the doctrine of recapitulation, which preaches the repetition of the signs of their ancestors in phylogenesis in embryos during ontogeny. Charles Darwin distinguished two main types of recapitulation: atavism and rudiment.

The use of phylogeny by various sciences

Phylogeny is a teaching that is very important for a number of sciences, including embryology, paleontology, comparative anatomy and even psychology. At the same time, phylogenetics, which studies the history of development of various types of organisms, turns to the achievements of such sciences as biochemistry, physiology, genetics, ethology, molecular biology, etc., for the most effective study of evolution at the present stage.

Phylogeny in Psychology

In psychology, phylogeny means the historical development of something in the process of evolution. Phylogeny in psychology is a reflection of development through the mental state of individuals. An animal is characterized by an instinctive existence in the surrounding world, based on reflexes. The highest animal, among others, is also inherent in the manifestation of reason. In turn, a person, in addition to the above characteristics, also has consciousness and thinking. It is with the help of phylogeny that psychology has the opportunity to conduct similar studies, searching for the basis and factors that shaped the human psyche in the form in which it exists at the present time.

The meaning of phylogenesis

Phylogeny is one of the most important links in the development of all life. From the moment he appeared in the scientific field, he occupied the most important place in understanding the evolution and development of not only the human race, but also all living organisms. Studies of this phenomenon are necessary for the development of a general theory of evolution and the construction of a natural system of organisms. The basis on which the doctrinal provisions of phylogenesis are built is in the theory of natural selection. At the moment, it should be said that the phylogeny of various groups of organisms is studied unevenly, which is determined by the different preservation of remains and fossils, on the basis of which it would be possible to build a phylogenetic (pedigree) tree reliably. At present, the most studied is the phylogeny of the higher groups of vertebrates. If we talk about invertebrate animals, then among them, the most studied are mollusks, arthropods, brachial and some others.

Certainly, in the light of the manifestation of a great interest in the origin of the world, its constituents and, in particular, man, such a scientific phenomenon as phylogenesis is of great importance for the knowledge of humanity itself and the world around them.