Organisms that exhibit different phenotypes in different env

Organisms that exhibit different phenotypes in different environemnts are said to exhibit phenotypic plasticity. Why is it important to study reaction norms to understand this class fo phenotypic expression? State a brief answer.

Solution

The ability of individulas to alter their physiological mechanisms, morphology as well as behaviour against varying environmental conditions is called as Phenotypic plasticity. This type of behaviour is demonstrate by various plants and small animals.

Study of a reaction norm can explain the patterm of phenotypic expression of an individual geotype in a given range of environments. Different reaction norms exist for a particular particular phenotypic trait in the different genotypes of the same species.

Reaction norms are highle inter-related and their study can also describe how different related species respond to a variations in the environment. This concept was first introduced by Richard Woltereck.

Thus, the reaction norms are extremely complex and may differ for different environment, different phenotypic trait of same species and genotypes for particular trait in related species.