Biogenetic law

Biogenetic Law is a principle in developmental biology that suggests a correlation between the developmental stages of an organism and the evolutionary stages of its species. This concept, also known as recapitulation theory, was first proposed by German zoologist Ernst Haeckel in the 19th century.

History

The biogenetic law was formulated by Ernst Haeckel in 1866, building upon the earlier work of Karl Ernst von Baer. Haeckel's original statement of the law was "ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny", meaning that the development of an individual organism (ontogeny) mirrors the evolutionary development of its species (phylogeny).

Concept

The biogenetic law proposes that the stages of development for an animal embryo are the same as other animals' adult stages or forms. In simpler terms, each successive stage in the development of an individual represents one of the adult forms that appeared in its evolutionary history.

Criticism and Modern View

The biogenetic law has been controversial since its inception. Many biologists in Haeckel's time, such as Wilhelm His Sr., criticized it for its oversimplification of complex biological processes. In the modern era, the biogenetic law is largely considered an oversimplification. While there are elements of truth in the concept of ontogeny recapitulating phylogeny, it is not a hard and fast rule. Modern biologists prefer to view the relationship between ontogeny and phylogeny through the lens of evolutionary developmental biology, which considers a wider range of genetic, cellular, and morphological factors.

See Also

• Ontogeny
• Phylogeny
• Evolutionary developmental biology
• Ernst Haeckel
• Karl Ernst von Baer