Metamorfosia

Metamorfosia, also known as metamorphosis, is the process by which something undergoes a substantial transformation in form, structure, or character. The term is used across disciplines, most notably biology and geology, to describe changes that occur over an organism’s life cycle or a rock’s history.

In biology, metamorphosis refers to developmental changes that dramatically alter an organism’s body plan and lifestyle. Complete metamorphosis (holometabolism) includes distinct life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult, and is common in insects such as butterflies, moths, beetles, bees, and flies. Incomplete metamorphosis (hemimetabolism) features eggs that hatch into nymphs, which resemble adults and gradually develop through molts; this pattern is seen in many insects like grasshoppers, true bugs (including cicadas and aphids), and cockroaches. Some species exhibit variations between these patterns, producing either gradual or more abrupt transformations.

In geology, metamorphism denotes the solid-state alteration of pre-existing rocks under conditions of heat, pressure, and chemically active fluids, resulting in metamorphic rocks with new mineral assemblages and textures. Major drivers include tectonic burial and deformation, proximity to intruding magma (contact metamorphism), and regional tectonic forces. Metamorphic rocks such as slate, schist, phyllite, gneiss, marble, and quartzite display features like foliation, banding, and recrystallization that record their history. The process typically occurs over long geological timescales.

Beyond science, metamorfosia is often used metaphorically to describe substantial changes in appearance, behavior, or identity, reflecting a transformation in a person, organization, or culture.