A theory of biological form, intended to integrate biological evolution and ontogenetic development, that considers the whole organism rather than just genes as in the Modern synthesis. Its main thrust is that gene action takes place within self-organizing morphogenetic fields, which impose constraints on what forms can be generated, both in development and during evolution. While genes are acknowledged as being involved at every stage in the generation of form, the unity of developing and evolving organisms derives from the relational processes embodied in morphogenetic fields. One of a number of recent attempts to derive a new synthesis of development and evolution, the theory’s main author is Brian Goodwin.
See Constraint, Developmental emergence, Diachronic biology, Epigenetic emergence, Evolutionary developmental biology, Morphogenetic field, Self-organization