Question

The embryological support for evolution was disproved by whose keen observations?
A. Karl Ernst Von Baer
B. Ernst Haeckel
C. Charles Darwin
D. Alfred Wallace

Answer 1

Hint: Embryology is the study of the evolution of the anatomy of an organism to its adult form and provides evidence for evolution as embryo formation in commonly divergent groups of organisms tend to be retained.

Complete step-by-step anwer:
Based on observing certain characteristics during the embryonic stage common to all vertebrates absent in adults, embryological support for evolution was proposed by Ernst Heckel. For example, the embryos of all vertebrates including human beings develop a row of vestigial gill slits directly behind the head, but it is a functional organ only in fish and not present in any other adult vertebrates. When embryos of fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals are observed it can be noticed that they show several structural resemblances. This reveals that they all are derived from common ancestors and the reason why only the embryos exhibit similarities is that adult organisms of various species show various patterns of evolution. But Karl Ernst von Baer was the one who disapproved of the embryological support for evolution. He rejected the idea that the embryos of more complex animals passed through morphological phases that are similar to those of the adult forms of organisms lower in the hierarchy of life.

Therefore the correct answer is Option A.

Note: Embryology is the branch of biology which includes a study of the development of embryos beginning from gamete fusion. The process of evolution is supported by numerous processes and theories, such as morphological evidence, the presence of fossil records, embryological evidence, molecular evidence, etc.