Fluctuating asymmetry
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Fluctuating asymmetry is an organism’s deviation from bilateral symmetry. It can be measured in the body—as in bilateral symmetry of finger lengths—or in a particular organ. It is related to concepts of symmetry such as facial symmetry, and is believed to measure the ability of the genome to successfully canalize and buffer development to achieve a normal phenotype under imperfect environmental conditions, as implied by Waddington's notion of canalization. As such it is a key concept in evolution and development, and underlies concepts such as resilience or developmental stability—the ability to maintain a normal developmental course under stress.
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