[Unfolding of the brain and secondary mandibular joint and face development in mammals: a synergetic and synchronous event].

The connection of phylogenesis and ontogenesis is discussed in terms of the interdependence of the development of face, secondary mandibular joint, and brain. The results show that phylogenesis can be explored from preadaptations which become functionally effective during ontogenesis. Therefore phylogenetically "old" functions will not be eliminated but functionally changed and then integrated into new ones. This is discussed as "synergetic events". Changes in the genetic material cannot be correlated with these functional changes, they are acausally connected. This is termed "synchronizition". Synergetic and synchronistic events together cause new functions thus forming archetypical organisms continuing evolution. It is further discussed that the essential role of ontogenesis during phylogenesis could be facilitated by an immaturity of the genome in the early embryological stages.