The manoeuvrability hypothesis to explain the maintenance of bilateral symmetry in animal evolution

Biology Direct

Gábor Holló¹  Mihály Novák² 

[1] Institute of Psychology, University of Debrecen, P.O.B. 28, Debrecen, H, 4010, Hungary

[2] Institute of Nuclear Research of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA ATOMKI), Debrecen, Hungary

关键词: Drag coefficient;    Drag;    Manoeuvrability;    Radial symmetry;    Bilateral symmetry;   

Others  :  796946
DOI  :  10.1186/1745-6150-7-22

 received in 2011-12-05, accepted in 2012-07-12,  发布年份 2012

【 摘 要 】

Background

The overwhelming majority of animal species exhibit bilateral symmetry. However, the precise evolutionary importance of bilateral symmetry is unknown, although elements of the understanding of the phenomenon have been present within the scientific community for decades.

Presentation of the hypothesis

Here we show, with very simple physical laws, that locomotion in three-dimensional macro-world space is itself sufficient to explain the maintenance of bilateral symmetry in animal evolution. The ability to change direction, a key element of locomotion, requires the generation of instantaneous “pushing” surfaces, from which the animal can obtain the necessary force to depart in the new direction. We show that bilateral is the only type of symmetry that can maximize this force; thus, an actively locomoting bilateral body can have the maximal manoeuvrability as compared to other symmetry types. This confers an obvious selective advantage on the bilateral animal.

Implications of the hypothesis

These considerations imply the view that animal evolution is a highly channelled process, in which bilateral and radial body symmetries seem to be inevitable.

Reviewers

This article was reviewed by Gáspár Jékely, L. Aravind and Eugene Koonin.

【 授权许可】

   
2012 Holló and Novák; BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

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