Neoteny

neoteny An evolutionary process by which organismal development is retarded relative to sexual maturation; produces a descendant that reaches sexual maturity while retaining a morphology characteristic of the preadult or larval stage of an ancestor.

embryogeny , embryology, endoderm, extra-embryonic membrane , fetus (or foetus), gastrula, gastrulation, germ layer, germ plasm, germination, induction , juvenile, larva, maternal effect, mesoderm, metamorphosis, morphogenesis, morula, neoteny, ...

The idea was based on observations of neoteny.[6] This was extended by the more general idea of heterochrony (changes in timing of development) as a mechanism for evolutionary change; ...

Neoteny is a process which leads to an organism reaching reproductive capacity in its juvenile form. The primary line of evidence for this is the similarities between young apes and adult humans.

See also: Organ, Cell, Animal, Larva, Plant