What is evolutionary developmental biology?
Q: What is evolutionary developmental biology?
A: Evolutionary developmental biology, also known as 'evo-devo', interprets development in the context of evolution and modern genetics.
Q: Who proposed the theory of evolution through natural selection?
A: Charles Darwin proposed the theory of evolution through natural selection in his book 'On the Origin of Species' in 1859.
Q: What did Darwin recognise about embryonic development in the understanding of evolution?
A: Darwin recognised the importance of embryonic development in the understanding of evolution, stating that characters derived from the embryo are just as important as those derived from the adult.
Q: What is 'ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny'?
A: 'Ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny' is the idea proposed by Ernst Haeckel that the development of the embryo of every species repeats the evolutionary development of that species.
Q: Why do humans and all vertebrates have gill slits and tails early in embryonic development?
A: According to Haeckel's theory of 'ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny', humans and all vertebrates have gill slits and tails early in embryonic development because their evolutionary ancestors also had these features.
Q: Is Haeckel's concept of 'ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny' still widely accepted?
A: No, Haeckel's concept of 'ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny' is largely discredited today.
Q: What contribution did Haeckel make to the understanding of embryonic development?
A: Haeckel's concept of 'ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny' contributed to the understanding of embryonic development by proposing that the development of the embryo of every species repeats the evolutionary development of that species.
