metamerism

American  

[muh-tam-uh-riz-uhm] / məˈtæm əˌrɪz əm /

noun

1. Zoology.

   1. division into metameres, the developmental process of somite formation.

   2. existence in a metameric state.

2. Chemistry. isomerism resulting from the attachment of different groups to the same atom, as C 2 H 5 NHC 2 H 5 and CH 3 NHC 3 H 7 .

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metamerism British  

/ mɪˈtæməˌrɪzəm /

noun

1. Also called: metameric segmentation.   segmentation.  the division of an animal into similar segments (metameres). In many vertebrates it is confined to the embryonic nervous and muscular systems

2. chem a type of isomerism in which molecular structures differ by the attachment of different groups to the same atom, as in CH 3 OC 3 H 7 and C 2 H 5 OC 2 H 5

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Etymology

Origin of metamerism

1840–50; metamerism ( in def. 1 ) metamere + -ism; metamerism ( in def. 2 ) meta- + (iso)merism

Example Sentences

It’s a phenomenon called observer metamerism.

From Scientific American

The two types of display rely on metamerism, a phenomenon by which combinations of light that look the same actually differ in their spectral make-up, says Lucas.

From Nature

When a creeping plant propagates itself by runners, when a Nais or Myrianida breaks up into a series of similar segments, each of which becomes a worm like the parent, we have to do with the general fact that growing organisms tend to display a symmetrical repetition of equivalent parts, and that reproduction by fission is simply a special case of metamerism.

From Project Gutenberg

A satisfactory consideration of the structure of the Arthropods demands a knowledge of what may be called the laws of metamerism, and reference should be made to the article under that head.

From Project Gutenberg

We are prohibited by a general consideration of metamerism in the Arthropoda from adopting the hypothesis of intercalation of somites.

From Project Gutenberg