heterology

Heterology refers to the presence of different or non-identical parts within a whole, especially in biological or linguistic contexts. In biology, it describes structures or tissues that vary in composition or origin. For example, heterologous tissues in plants or animals are derived from different developmental sources. In linguistics, it can refer to words with different origins or roots. Essentially, heterology highlights diversity within a system, emphasizing that not all components are uniform or derived from a single source, reflecting complex and varied structures or origins.