Metamorphosis, a term coined from the Greek words \”meta,\” meaning change, and \”morphosis,\” meaning form, refers to a profound and often dramatic transformation in the physical, emotional, or psychological state of a living being. This concept has been explored in various works of literature, art, and mythology throughout human history.
In literature, metamorphosis is often portrayed as a central theme, reflecting the transformation of a character from one state to another. One of the most famous examples of this is Franz Kafka\’s novella, \”Metamorphosis,\” where the protagonist, Gregor Samsa, wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into a giant insect. The story explores the psychological effects of this transformation on Gregor and his family, highlighting the themes of isolation, alienation, and identity crisis.
Similarly, in Ovid\’s \”Metamorphoses,\” the Roman poet chronicles the transformation of various characters from gods to mortals, humans to animals, and even inanimate objects to living beings. These metamorphoses reflect the cyclical nature of life and the concept of change as an inevitable part of the human experience.
Metamorphosis is not limited to literature and art. In nature, metamorphosis is a common occurrence in the life cycle of many living beings. For example, a caterpillar undergoes a complete metamorphosis to transform into a butterfly, while a tadpole transforms into a frog. These physical changes reflect the natural evolution of life and are essential for survival and growth.
explain the concept of metamorphosis
The concept of metamorphosis also has a significant role in psychology. In psychoanalysis, metamorphosis is associated with personal growth and transformation. It refers to the process of moving from one stage of development to another, often involving a significant shift in perception, values, and beliefs.
Overall, metamorphosis is a complex and multifaceted concept that reflects the ever-changing nature of life. Whether portrayed in literature, observed in nature, or experienced personally, it highlights the transformative power of change and the importance of embracing it as an integral part of the human experience.
Types of metamorphosis
Metamorphosis is the process of transformation that an organism undergoes from one developmental stage to another. There are two main types of metamorphosis:
- Complete metamorphosis: This type of metamorphosis involves a complete change in body form and function. The organism undergoes distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Insects such as butterflies, moths, beetles, and bees exhibit complete metamorphosis.
- Incomplete metamorphosis: This type of metamorphosis involves a partial change in body form and function. The organism undergoes three stages: egg, nymph, and adult. Nymphs resemble adults but lack wings and sexual organs. They go through a series of moults before reaching adulthood. Insects such as grasshoppers, crickets, and cockroaches exhibit incomplete metamorphosis.
METAMORPHOSIS IN INSECTS AND OTHER ANIMALS
Describe reproduction in:
Cockroach is an example of a biting and chewing insect
Housefly
Snail
Differentiate between complete and incomplete metamorphosis.
WHAT IS METAMORPHOSIS
Metamorphosis is defined as the series of gradual changes of formed and shape of an insect from the fertilized egg (immature stage) to the adult (mature stage of adulthood).
Certain organisms when they are hatched from eggs do not exactly resemble the adult form. They, therefore, undergo a series of changes in shape or form until the adult stage is reached. This process is what is called metamorphosis.
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TYPES OF METAMORPHOSIS
There are two types of metamorphosis. These are complete and incomplete metamorphoses.
Complete metamorphosis
Complete metamorphosis is the series of gradual changes which take place in insects from fertilized eggs to lava, then to pupa and finally to the adult stage.
Complete metamorphosis involves four stages. These are: eggs==larva==pupa==adult
Examples of insects which exhibit complete metamorphosis include houseflies, mosquitoes, butterflies, bees, wasps and beetles
these are also examples of piercing and sucking insects
Incomplete metamorphosis
Incomplete metamorphosis is defined as the series of gradual changes in insects which take place from fertilized eggs to nymph and finally to the adult stage. Incomplete metamorphosis involves only three stages. They are egg=nymph==adult.
Examples of insects which exhibit incomplete metamorphosis include grasshoppers, cockroaches, dragonflies, locusts, aphids, termites and praying mantes.
Differences between complete and incomplete metamorphosis
COMPLETE METAMORPHOSIS
- Four stages of development are involved.
- There is the presence of pupa (resting stage)
- There is no resemblance between pupa and adult
- There is the absence of nymph
- Examples of complete metamorphosis are houseflies and mosquito-also cause malaria.
The main differences between complete and incomplete metamorphosis are as follows:
- Body form: Complete metamorphosis involves a complete change in body form and function, while incomplete metamorphosis involves a partial change in body form and function.
- Stages: Complete metamorphosis involves four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. In contrast, incomplete metamorphosis involves three stages: egg, nymph, and adult.
- Larval stage: In complete metamorphosis, the larval stage is the most distinct and different from the adult stage. Larvae are specialized for feeding and growing, and they often have different body shapes and behaviors than adults. In incomplete metamorphosis, the nymph stage resembles the adult but lacks wings and sexual organs.
- Moulting: In complete metamorphosis, the organism goes through a complete transformation during the pupal stage, which involves shedding the larval skin and forming a pupal case before developing into an adult. In contrast, in incomplete metamorphosis, the nymph goes through a series of moults before developing into an adult.
- Time frame: Complete metamorphosis typically takes longer than incomplete metamorphosis. The larval stage in complete metamorphosis can last for weeks or months, while the nymph stage in incomplete metamorphosis typically lasts only a few weeks.
Overall, complete metamorphosis is a more dramatic and extensive process of development, while incomplete metamorphosis involves a more gradual transformation.
STAGES OF INCOMPLETE METAMORPHOSIS
- Three stages of development are involved
- There is the absence of pupa (no resting stage)
- There is a resemblance between nymph and adult.
- Nymph is present
- Examples of incomplete metamorphosis are cockroaches and grasshoppers.
INCOMPLETE METAMORPHOSIS IN COCKROACH
Metamorphosis, a term coined from the Greek words \”meta,\” meaning change, and \”morphosis,\” meaning form is an example of incomplete metamorphosis.
The cockroach exhibits incomplete metamorphosis. This starts from fertilized egg to nymph and finally to the adult or imago stage i.e. Egg==Nymph==Adult
Mating begins when the male introduces spermatozoa into the posterior part of the female’s abdomen through the genital opening. These spermatozoa are then stored in the spermatozoa pouch in the body of the female. From here, they meet the eggs as the latter pass towards the exterior.
Fertilization is internal.
i. Egg stages in cockroach: the egg of the cockroach are laid in a horny egg case called ootheca (plural oothecae) formed in the body. This is a chitinous structure which looks like a purse. There are usually 10-15 eggs in one egg
demand and supplycase and they are arranged in two rows of 5 to 8 eggs per row. The female cockroach carries this egg case for some time in its abdominal pouch. It then deposits it in a dark, warm and humid place.
ii. Nymph stage in cockroaches: after some time (about 30-100 days) these eggs hatch out into very small, wingless, colourless nymphs. These nymphs feed and grow large and soon begin to moult. During this series of moulting, the wings appear, and the nymphal life last for 10 to 16 months.
iii. Adult stage of cockroach: the appearance of the wings shows adulthood in the nymph. The adult cockroach now has wings, legs, abdomen, antenna etc. fully developed. The cockroach requires about 11 to 20 months to develop from egg to adult.
COMPLETE METAMORPHOSIS IN HOUSEFLY
Life history of the housefly is an example of complete metamorphosis
The housefly exhibits complete metamorphosis, i.e. Egg=Larva==Pupa==Adult.
The housefly breeds on any decomposing organic materials e.g. faeces, rotten meat etc.
Housefly has a short life cycle of about 3-4 weeks.
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Egg stage during metamorphosis:
the female housefly lays about 2-7 batches of eggs, each batch consisting of 100-150 eggs. The eggs which are white are laid in moist, rotten animal, and plant remains including human faeces. They hatch out in 8 hours to 3 days into white larvae called maggots.
during the metamorphosis Larva stage:
the body of the larva called maggot is made up of twelve segments. It is pointed at the anterior end which bears the head (on the first segment) but very broad at the posterior end. The head bears a pair of hooks used for tearing food and drawing the maggot along. It has a small mouth which lies between two oral lobes. On the ventral surface of each of the sixth to twelfth segments lies a small spiny pad which takes the place of the legs. The maggot has two pairs of spiracles used for breathing.
They are located on the 2nd and on 12th segments of the body. It moults or sheds its skin several times and last for about 5 to 14 days after which it moves to a dry place to begin the pupa stage
Pupa stage during metamorphosis:
the maggot shortens, its skin becomes hard and brown and functions as the pupa case or puparium. The pupa is an oval barrel-shaped object with rings running transversely around it. It does not feed or move. It is during this stage that internal reorganization of the body takes place.
Adult or Imago stage:
about 3 to 10 days later, the young adult or imago hatches out from the puparium. It emerges from the puparium by using a sac-like organ attached to its head to break it open. This organ is called the ptilinum. It inflates this organ with blood and presses it against the front end of the puparium. The pressure forces the top part of the case to crack. The imago then moves to the surface of the rotten filth and flies away when its wings are dry.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN METAMORPHOSIS IN HOUSEFLIES AND TOAD
HOUSEFLY
1. Takes place on land
2. Pupa or resting stage present
3. Takes shorter time
METAMORPHOSIS IN TOAD
- Takes place in water
- No pupa or resting stage
- Takes longer time
REPRODUCTION IN SNAIL
Snails belong to a group called Molluscs. They reproduce sexually. The adult male possesses the male cells called spermatozoa while the female possesses eggs. When the male mate with the female body leading to internal fertilization which involves the fusion of the spermatozoa and the eggs. The female later lays the eggs in cool, dry land. After some days the egg hatches on its own and new baby snails emerge. read snail farming here
REPRODUCTION IN TOAD
In sexual reproduction, the male produces the spermatozoa while the female produces the egg or ovum. The fusion of the spermatozoa and the egg in the fallopian tube of the female during mating is called fertilization. The fusion of these sex cells, i.e. spermatozoa and egg results in the formation of a zygote. The zygote undergoes cell division to form a developing organism called an embryo.
STAGES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOAD
- Courtship stage: reproduction in toads usually takes place during the rainy season. The male makes loud croaking noise to attract the females which are usually swollen with eggs. The male toad later climbs on the female’s back and holds her firmly with the thick pads on its thumbs. As the female lays her eggs, the male releases its seminal fluid on them resulting in external fertilization.
The egg stage: the eggs laid are surrounded in strings of jelly. The jelly performs the following functions:
i. Protects the eggs from mechanical injury when water is disturbed.
ii. It separates the eggs to enable them to receive adequate oxygen.
iii. Prevents bacterial and fungal attacks on the eggs.
iv. It prevents the eggs from drying up. The fertilized eggs (zygote) undergo cell division by the mitosis process to form the embryo. The embryo feeds and grows around the egg yolk. Dissolved energy diffuses through the jelly into the embryo.
- The young tadpole stage: the series of changes which takes place from the development of tadpoles inside the egg to the adult stage is called metamorphosis. After 1 to 2 days, the young tadpole emerges from the jelly and grows. At this time, it attaches itself to a water weed with a sticky substance secreted by a V-shaped cement gland on the underside of the head. At this stage, the tadpole has no mouth and still feeds on the egg yolk.
It obtains dissolved oxygen through the skin for respiration. Developing eyes, ears and nostrils are seen and a portion marked for the appearance of the mouth is equally noticed.
4. The external gill stage: the young tadpole now has a clear head, body and tail. It develops three external gills on either side of the head for respiration. It also develops horny jaws which are used to feed on water weeds. The intestine is long-coiled. The V-shaped cement gland is still present in the tadpole.
- Internal stage: about 6-10 days after hatching, the external gills disintegrate while the internal gills develop. A gill cover (operculum) grows over the gills leaving an opening called a spout on the left side only through which water flows out of the gill chamber. The tadpole now breathes like a fish. During this stage, the tail elongates and muscles then develop.
6. The limb stage: the hind limbs grow first and develop. The forelimbs then start to grow out. The left fore limb appears first through the opercula opening, followed by the right which disintegrates while the lungs start developing. The mouth develops and replaces the horny jaws.
The intestine shortens, and the tadpole starts eating small animals in the water. The eyes become big and prominent.
7. Young toad stage: the tadpole changes into a small toad by reabsorbing the tail. It comes out of the water to the land where it grows into a full adult toad. It usually takes about 40-45 days for metamorphosis in the toad to take place, i.e. from egg to adult toad.
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Effect or Role of Hormone in the Development of Toad
In toads and other amphibians, metamorphosis is controlled by the hormone called thyroxin. It is produced by the thyroid gland in the region at the junction of the head and the trunk. For thyroxin to be made, there must be iodine in the water. The tadpole cannot change into adult form in the absence of this hormone. However, an increased thyroid level of thyroxine hastens metamorphosis.
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WEED AND THEIR BOTANICAL NAMES
1. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AFFECTING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
2. DISEASES
3. 52. SOIL MICRO-ORGANISMS
4. ORGANIC MANURING
5. FARM YARD MANURE
6. HUMUGRAZING AND OVER GRAZING
10. IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGES
7. COMPOST
8. CROP ROTATION
9.
11. IRRIGATION SYSTEMS
12. ORGANIC MANURING
13. FARM YARD MANURE
14. HUMUS
15. COMPOST
16. CROP ROTATION
IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE
19. IRRIGATION SYSTEMS
20. INCUBATORS
21. MILKING MACHINE
22. SIMPLE FARM TOOLS
23. AGRICULTURAL MECHANIZATION
24. THE CONCEPT OF MECHANIZATION
25. PROBLEMS OF MECHANIZATION
Originally posted 2021-12-12 16:22:49.