Question
Biology Question on evolution
A good example for recapitulation theory is/are
A
canine teeth of dog
B
placenta of mammals
C
tadpole larva of frog
D
embryonic membranes of reptiles
Answer
tadpole larva of frog
Explanation
Solution
It was Ernst Haeckel who proposed the biogenetic law or recapitulation theory. Haeckel?s law states that "ontogeny repeats phylogeny". Ontogeny is the life history of an organism while phylogeny is the evolutionary history of the race of that organism. In other words, an organism repeats its ancestral history during its embryonic development. In the development of the frog, a fish-like tailed larva (tadpole) is formed, which swims with the tail and respires through gills. This indicates that the frog has evolved from a fish-like ancestor.