What Is Neoteny Or Paedogenesis?

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Introduction – The attainment of sexual maturity leading to reproduction in larval stage is called Neoteny or Paedogenesis. Neoteny is also known as juvenilization. The term neoteny was coined by Kollwan (1882). It results from natural selection favoring delay in the maturation of somatic tissue while the time needed for maturation of the gonads remains constant. (In other words, somatic development stops earlier than it did in their ancestors. Neoteny can be favored by natural selection when there is an advantage to retaining the larval body plan for longer periods of time (over many generations) and the advantage is not attainable by the adult body plan. Examples: Cryptobranchoidea, Amphiumidae. Metamorphosis of larva into adult is retarded. Neoteny …show more content…

*In such cases, larvae become sexually functional and under favourable condition metamorphose into adults. *This type of neoteny includes sexually mature axolotl larvae of Ambystoma. Factors influencing neoteny –*Research indicates that neoteny occurs because the hypothalamus of the brain fails to produce the hormone that causes the pituitary to stimulate the thyroid gland to produce growth hormones that trigger metamorphosis. Several internal and external factors are responsible for neoteny, a rare unusual event. *Several internal and external factors are responsible for neoteny, a rare unusual