Comparative physiology studies the similarities and differences between living organisms and their functions, incorporating fields such as evolution and environmental studies. The Krogh Principle mandates the use of accessible living beings to answer scientific questions. Researchers study a wide range of functions, including ecophysiology and phylogenic comparative methods to examine evolutionary relationships.
Comparative physiology is a branch of science that explores the similarities and differences between living things and how they function. As a research area, comparative physiology is a subclass of physiology: the study of the functional processes of living organisms. The discipline itself incorporates many divergent scientific fields, including evolution, environmental studies, and archeology.
A combination of necessity and curiosity gave rise to comparative physiology. Doctors needed new ways to treat human patients, so animals that shared many characteristics with humans were a ripe area for research. Thus was born the Krogh Principle, which mandates the use of easily accessible living beings to answer scientific or medical questions. Eventually, this practical use for comparisons blossomed into a general scientific curiosity about the similarities and divergences between various animal species.
Comparative physiologists study and compare a wide range of functions in organisms. Nearly every part of an organism’s body serves an important use, and nearly all living organisms share basic needs such as food, respiration, internal temperature control, and the maintenance of the heart. By studying the processes that drive these needs, such as cellular exchanges and blood circulation, researchers can glean a wealth of comparative information.
In a sense, relationships define comparative physiology. At the most basic level, this field is a study of the relationship between a living creature and its body. Adequate comparisons can only be obtained when the scientist understands how the physical body of each organism allows it to carry out the actions essential for daily life. The physiological component of comparative physiology can therefore range from the study of how organisms use limbs or other appendages to move around to how organisms breathe.
Another important aspect of comparative physiology is the relationship between organisms and their environment, or ecophysiology. The same physical environment can exert very different effects on divergent organisms. A fish, for example, will have a much more grim outcome in a desert environment than in its natural habitat, water. Conversely, a land lizard acclimated to harsher climates would be ill-equipped to deal with an aquatic environment due to its anatomical makeup. As such, ecophysiology and its study of aspects of adaptation can offer a better understanding of all animal groups in comparative physiology.
One particular area of comparative physiology has received increased attention over time: the use of phylogenic comparative methods. Scientists use these methods to examine potential evolutionary relationships between different living organisms and to document any significant changes a particular group of animals may have undergone since its inception. Researchers can study the physical similarities between certain organisms or how some organisms have evolved similar functional parts, such as lungs or gills for respiratory purposes. As a result, the study could uncover common ancestors between different species and solidify an evolutionary link. Examining fossil remains and other archaeological evidence can also help comparative physiologists understand how a group of animals has changed and adapted from ancient times to the present era.
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