Question

The biogenetic law of heckle is
A. Omnis vivum-e-vivum
B. Omnis cellula-e-cellula
C. Ontogeny repeats phylogeny
D. Phylogeny repeats ontogeny

Answer 1

Hint: This theory is based on evolution and development. It was given by Ernst Heckle. It is based on the stages of development and the similarities between animal embryos and adults.

Complete answer: The biogenetic law of heckle was given by Ernst Heckle in Germany in 1860.
This theory states “ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny”. This explains that the stages that an embryo undergo on development is a recap of the evolution forms of the species as a whole. In other words it explains that studying the development of the embryo allows the possibility to understand the lifeforms and the diversity seen on earth.
This theory also explained that all the species on earth have a common ancestor as a whole. This law was introduced to construct phylogenetic trees with the help of evolution by the researchers.
According to Heckle his law was based on three assumptions —
First states that the stages of development seen in higher animals is similar to the adults of lower animals.
Second states that there are additions of some new characters in the evolution.
Third states the principle of truncation.

So the correct answer is C i.e ontogeny repeats phylogeny.

Note: This law was introduced after he studies the work of Charles Darwin on The origin of species. Heckle and Dawrin did not have the same perspective about the theory. Heckle thought that evolution was progressive process from the lower animals to the higher. Darwin did not believe it to be a progressive process.