In biology, a condition where different parts or organs of an organism grow at different rates, creating disproportionate sizes or shapes.
From Greek hetero- (different) + auxesis (growth, from auxanein 'to increase'). This scientific term describes differential growth patterns using classical Greek roots.
Heterauxesis explains why some fish have one eye bigger than the other, or why mantis shrimp develop crushing claws years before their other limbs catch up—it's differential growth running different developmental schedules, and understanding it helps us see how evolutionary changes start as growth timing tweaks.
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