What does "ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny" mean?
Quick Answer
The phrase "ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny" refers to a scientific theory that an organism's fetal development follows the species' previous evolutionary forms. This theory has been disproven.
Continue ReadingFull Answer
According to this theory, fetal development resembles ancestral forms and goes from one form to the next in chronological order. The youngest fetus resembles the oldest ancestor, and so on. However, this is not the case. While the fetuses of air-breathing animals retain gills until a certain stage, the gill stage does not necessarily resemble the adult form of any evolutionary ancestor. Instead, fetal development often resembles the developmental forms of its ancestors; the embryos of both chickens and humans resemble the embryos of fish and lizards.
Learn more about Earth ScienceRelated Questions
-
Q:
What evidence is there of the continental drift theory?
A: According to National Geographic, sea floor spreading and plate tectonics indicate that the continents do move or shift, which supports continental drift t... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What is some evidence that support The Big Bang Theory?
A: Evidence supporting the Big Bang theory includes the presence of cosmic microwave background radiation, visual observation of redshifted objects and the ab... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
Why is Charles Darwin important?
A: Charles Darwin was a naturalist of the 1800s who became the foremost name in the theory of evolution. He promoted the idea of ���survival of the fittest���... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What does the theory of evolution state?
A: Darwin's theory of evolution states that evolution happens by natural selection. According to the evolutionary theory, the genes that allow a species to th... Full Answer >Filed Under:
