Cover illustration: It has been proposed that during the canalization of morphogenetic processes, development passes through a dynamic cone in which any point in space represents a distinct morphogenetic appearance at a particular time frame of development. (Top) Phenotype polymorphisms are restricted within the cone. Each space-point represents a morph at embryo (white), seedling (light-green), plant (green) or during the reproductive period and flower development (yellow) that is stochastically linked to any space-point during the course of development. Perimetrical circles are considered as the Hsp90 restricted borders. (Middle) If the restricted circles become broader by a decrease in Hsp90 function, then the diameter becomes larger allowing more developmental perturbations to occur, thus a higher magnitude of polymorphisms appear. (Bottom) When the environment changes abruptly at a certain time-point of development, the diameter becomes broader and the canalization changes direction. This eventually allows more perturbations during development and produces novel polymorphic traits. (See Samakovli et al., pp. 3513-3524.)
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