DEVELOPMENTAL STABILITY, DISEASE AND MEDICINE

Developmental stability reflects the ability of a genotype to undergo stable development of a phenotype under given environmental conditions . Deviations from developmental stability arise from the disruptive ef fects of a wide range of environmental and genetic stresses, and such deviations are usually measured in terms of fluctuating asymmetry and phenodeviants. Fluctuating asymmetry is the most sensitive indicator o f the ability to cope with stresses during ontogeny. There is consider able evidence that developmental stability, and especially fluctuating asymmetry, is a useful measure of phenotypic and genetic quality, bec ause it covaries negatively with performance in multiple fitness domai ns in many species, including humans. It is proposed that developmenta l stability is an important marker of human health. Our goal is to ini tiate formally the integration of the sciences of evolutionary biology , developmental biology and medicine. We believe that this integrative framework provides a significant addition to the growing field of Dar winian medicine. The literature linking developmental stability and di sease in humans is reviewed. Recent biological theoretical treatments pertaining to developmental stability are applied to a range of human health issues such as genetic diseases, ageing and survival, subfertil ity, abortion, child maltreatment by parents, cancer, infectious disea ses, physiological and mental health, and physical attractiveness as a health certification.