1)
evolution ary development of the structure of an organism or part. 2) embryological development of the structure of an organism or part. 3) The process in complex system-environment exchanges that tends to elaborate a system's given form or structure. Examples are the growth of an animal from a fertilized ovum, biological evolution, learning, and societal development. A morphogenic system is capable of maintaining its continuity and integrity by changing essential aspects of its structure or organization. (Von Bertalanffy, GST, pp. 148-9) See
autopoiesis.
A process of creating new organizational forms. In response to changing environmental conditions morphogenesis may be adaptive (
see adaptation ). As a consequence of POSITIVE
feedback among physical
variables, morphognesis may be destructive like the crack in a rock that lets water in, then roots, and ultimately breaks the rock into pieces. Morphogenesis may be radical by the realization of inventions or entirely new ideas about institutions or technologies, or it may be gradual by elaborating (refining and adding on to) existing
structures (
see growth ,
development ,
organization ,
morphostasis ). (
Krippendorff )
