Table 1 Glossary

Combinatorial evolution

Evolution by reorganization of preexisting elements. Different subunits are rearranged, and can be deleted, duplicated, and moved in various ways. This occurs not only at molecular level [112] but also at higher phenotypic levels. Typical examples of such process are heterochrony (changes in the timing of a developmental process) and heterotopy (changes in spatial location of a developmental process) [113]. Such evolutionary changes are likely to result from selection of mutations in cis-regulatory elements within particular gene regulatory networks [45]

Jacob [6]; McGinnis and Krumlauf [112]; Maeshiro and Kimura [114]; West-Eberhard [9]; West-Eberhard [10]

Developmental recombination

Reorganization of ancestral phenotypic traits in a particular individual, before genetic accommodation has fixed the phenotype in the population. The process has also been termed ‘chimeric’ or ‘somatic’ recombination

West-Eberhard [9]; West-Eberhard [10]; see also Davidson [14]; Ray [15]; Raff and Kaufman [16]

Genetic accommodation

Selection on standing genetic variation that molds the plastic response of a phenotypic trait. This occurs when the developmental-genetic system is sensitized, because genetic variation becomes exposed as phenotypic variation when the organism encounters a different environment

Waddington [18]; Suzuki and Nijhout [19]; Moczek [20]; Nijhout and Suzuki [21]; Suzuki and Nijhout [22]

Mosaic phenotype

Phenotype recombining within single individual traits that are normally found in distinct individuals

Wheeler and Weber [71]; Yang and Abouheif [109]