Allometric Scaling

Allometric scaling is a biological principle that describes how the characteristics of living organisms change with size. It suggests that as an organism grows, its body parts do not all scale up uniformly. For example, an elephant's legs are much thicker in proportion to its body than a mouse's legs are to its body. This concept helps scientists understand relationships between size, shape, and function in animals and plants, influencing aspects like metabolism, growth rates, and behavior across different species. In essence, it highlights the non-linear relationship between size and biological features.