Samantha, a three-year-old girl, showed stunted growth. She weighed only 22 pounds and was much shorter than most of her peers six months ago. She was treated for failure to thrive. She is now returning to her normal growth rate, and her weight is showing an increase. Which of the following phenomena does this scenario represent?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Canalization refers to the ability of an organism to return to its genetically predetermined growth trajectory after experiencing temporary environmental or health-related deviations. Samantha's return to her normal growth rate after treatment for failure to thrive is an example of canalization, where despite the temporary setback, her growth is aligning back with her genetic growth potential.

Samantha, a Three-Year-Old Girl, Showed Stunted Growth