Large‐scale patterns of correlated growth in development are partially driven by competition for metabolic and informational resources. It is argued that competition between organs for limited resources is an important mesoscale morphogenetic mechanism that produces fitness‐enhancing correlated growth. At the genetic level, the growth of individual characters appears independent, or “modular,” because patterns of expression and transcription are often highly localized, mutations have trait‐specific effects, and gene complexes can be co‐opted as a unit to produce novel traits. However, body parts are known to interact over the course of ontogeny, and these reciprocal exchanges can be an important determinant of developmental outcomes. Genetic mechanisms underlie cell and tissue behaviors that allow organs to communicate with one another, but they also create evolutionarily adaptive competitive dynamics that are driven by physiological and biophysical processes. Advances in the understanding of competitive and closely related coordinative interactions across scales will complement existing research programs that emphasize the role of cellular mechanisms in morphogenesis. Study of the large‐scale order produced by competitive dynamics promises to facilitate advances in basic evolutionary and developmental biology, as well as applied research in fields such as bioengineering and regenerative medicine that aim to regulate patterning outcomes.

中文翻译：

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身体部位之间的竞争性和协调性相互作用产生适应性发育结果。

发展中相关增长的大规模模式部分是由对代谢和信息资源的竞争驱动的。有人认为，器官之间对有限资源的竞争是一种重要的中尺度形态发生机制，可产生增强适应性的相关增长。在遗传水平上，个体性状的生长似乎是独立的或“模块化”的，因为表达和转录的模式通常是高度局部化的，突变具有性状特异性影响，并且基因复合物可以作为一个单元来产生新的性状。然而，已知身体部位会在个体发育过程中相互作用，而这些相互交换可能是发育结果的重要决定因素。遗传机制是细胞和组织行为的基础，允许器官相互交流，但它们也创造了由生理和生物物理过程驱动的进化适应性竞争动态。对跨尺度竞争和密切相关协调相互作用的理解的进展将补充现有的研究项目，这些项目强调细胞机制​​在形态发生中的作用。对竞争动态产生的大规模秩序的研究有望促进基础进化和发育生物学的进步，以及旨在调节模式结果的生物工程和再生医学等领域的应用研究。对跨尺度竞争和密切相关协调相互作用的理解的进展将补充现有的研究项目，这些项目强调细胞机制​​在形态发生中的作用。对竞争动态产生的大规模秩序的研究有望促进基础进化和发育生物学的进步，以及旨在调节模式结果的生物工程和再生医学等领域的应用研究。对跨尺度竞争和密切相关协调相互作用的理解的进展将补充现有的研究项目，这些项目强调细胞机制​​在形态发生中的作用。对竞争动态产生的大规模秩序的研究有望促进基础进化和发育生物学的进步，以及旨在调节模式结果的生物工程和再生医学等领域的应用研究。