A question about segmentation lengths in aquatic organisms

[benhj]

Hi there,

Does anybody know if body-plan segmentation in any aquatic organism follows a particular trend in terms of individual segment lengths? I have run some computer simulations of undulatory organisms composed of 5 segments and I have found that over a process of simulated evolution, there is a trend for segment 2 (segment 1 = head segment; segement 5 = tail segment) to become lengthened whilst a trend for the 5th, tail segment to become shortened. I have conducted this experiment 50 times for statistical significance and always have this finding.

Best Wishes,
Ben.

[Darby]

Are you using the archaic definition of "segment"? If you mean metameres, your numbering system won't work; just the use of the word "segment" is problematical - it has several different definitions.