Question

What is embryology? How does its study lead us to understand evolution?

Answer 1

Hint: The living organism arises through reproduction in which the parents give rise to the offspring through a series of developmental processes. An embryo is the early form of living thing after fertilization has occurred during the development process but before birth.

Complete answer:
> Embryology is the biological studies related to the development and production of gametes or sex cells. It also includes the different processes that lead to the formation and development of embryos.
> Early embryology was proposed by several scientific workers who proposed it as the theory that organisms develop from pre-existing miniature versions of themselves. In other words, embryology means the study of early forms of living organisms that exist before birth.
> The concept of embryology studies the developmental process of the embryo in a variety of organisms and their related comparisons. It includes the study of several processes such as cleavage and development of germ layers.
> The concept of including the features of embryology in study of evolutionary relationships among organisms were carried by Darwin. It was found to be the expansion of comparative embryology through the ideas of Charles Darwin. According to Darwin, there exists common embryonic and larval structures in different groups of organisms.
> These structural common features exhibit the relationship between the groups of organisms. This feature of Darwin’s theory on embryology defined the existence and presence of evolutionary characters such as homologous and analogous characters present in animals.
> Embryology is considered to be the central feature to evolutionary developmental biology. These studies the genetic control of the development process e.g. morphogens. In addition to this, embryological evidence in evolutionary processes are found to be linked to cell signalling, its role in certain diseases and mutations.
> Embryology is the key to gestational surrogacy and to modern stem cell research.

Note:
The study of formation and development of the embryo and foetus in different groups of organisms are known as embryology. It helps to understand the various processes dealing with origin, growth and development of the embryos. The study of embryology also serves to explain various evolutionary processes as embryos of different organisms are found to reflect similar characteristics.