The history of morphometrics

This paper explores the history of morphometrics, with a focus on its roots in geometry and biology. It discusses some of the key individuals and concepts that have shaped the field, including Francis Galton, D’Arcy Wentworth Thompson, Raymond Pearl, and J.B.S. Haldane. The paper also reviews the development of statistical methods for shape analysis, and describes some recent applications of morphometrics in fields such as paleontology, archaeology, and medicine.

The history of morphometrics can be traced back to the early 19th century, when Francis Galton first proposed using measurements of the human body to study individual differences. This work was continued by D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson, who adapted ideas from geometry to quantitatively analyze the shapes of animals and plants. In the early 20th century, statisticians such as Raymond Pearl and J.B.S. Haldane developed methods for analyzing the variation in shape within populations.

Morphometrics has since been applied in a variety of fields, including paleontology, archaeology, and medicine. In paleontology, morphometric analysis has been used to study the evolution of species, while in archaeology it has been used to study the variation in human skull shapes. In medicine, morphometrics has been used to study the development of various diseases, such as cancer.

Recent advances in computing technology have made it possible to collect and analyze large amounts of data on shapes. This has led to a renewed interest in morphometrics, and its application in fields such as forensics and biometrics.