Certificate In Psychology (CPSY) Practice Exam

The term that accurately describes variability in the development of different parts of an organism at a given time is heterochrony. Heterochrony refers to changes in the timing of developmental events, which can lead to variations in the size, shape, and function of specific parts of an organism relative to others. Understanding this concept is important in fields such as developmental biology and evolutionary studies, as it can explain how different features evolve over time in relation to each other. Heterochrony can occur in various forms, including the acceleration or retardation of developmental processes, and it plays a crucial role in the diversity of life forms. In contrast, terms like totipotentiality and pluripotentiality relate to the ability of cells to differentiate into various cell types, but they do not address the timing and variability aspect of development among different body parts. Heterogeneity generally refers to a lack of uniformity or diversity in a general sense and is not specific to developmental timing. Therefore, heterochrony is the most precise term in this context.