Comparative
Embryology
How do species change over time? &
Why might they change?
Agenda
CLASS: All vertebrates start the same way…
1. Work through slides (3-12) together.
2.Participate in the discussion & complete text
boxes.
Independently:
1. Review (slide 13) watch the PBS video - for
visual evidence.
2.Write a “Big Take Away” idea; 2-3 sentences
How do living things evolve over time - and WHY?
WHOA
The ones in the first row
LOOK almost the SAME!! fish tortoise pig hare
Basics of:
Comparative Embryology
looks at embryos of
different species, to
show all animals are
related.
What could we learn from
comparing different types of
embryos?
All vertebrate
embryos have a
similar basic body
design.
As they grow, we can see
the traits that tell them
apart
Studying this process
helps us understand
evolution.
What does this mean?
(summarize)
● Vertebrate embryos have
some similar genes.
Von Baer
Karl Ernst Von Baer,
came up with four principles of
comparative embryology:
1. Common features
can be seen before
specialized
features.
You can see
homologous structures
in early embryos.
What would this mean?
2. Common features
slowly develop
into more
specialized
(complex) features.
(specialize into body
systems)
What would this mean?
●This shows
●BUT
3. Gill slits are seen in
early human embryos,
Von Baer believes it is
due to a common
ancestor between
humans and fish.
Embryos of more evolved
animals diverge away from
more primitive animals.
Using this theory, since early
human embryos have the same
structures as adult fish…
What changes happened?
Why did they happen?
4. Embryos of higher
species look similar
to primitive embryos.
This shows higher
animals and
primitive animals...
What could this prove?
Darwin found that
differences between species
become greater as
evolution continues,
agreeing with Von Baer’s
theories.
HERE IS THE SLIDE
TITLE!
Charles Darwin
Darwin had two ways to look at
evolution
1. Focus on common descent
using embryo similarities.
OR
2. Focus on modifications to show how
structures developed that helped
animals adapt to changing conditions.
HERE IS THE SLIDE
TITLE!
Charles Darwin
Similar structure - from having a common
ancestral structure.
Like, the wing of a bird and the forelimb of a
human are homologous structures.
More importantly, their parts are homologous.
Similar structure - from doing a similar activity
or behavior, NOT a common ancestor.
Like, the wing of a moth and wing of a bird
are analogous.
They have a common function but happened
through evolution
Homologous Analogous
Homologous & Analogous Review
PBS
VIDEO
Comparing embryology...
What is Your Big Take Away Idea?

Comparative Embryology introduction

  • 1.
    Comparative Embryology How do specieschange over time? & Why might they change?
  • 2.
    Agenda CLASS: All vertebratesstart the same way… 1. Work through slides (3-12) together. 2.Participate in the discussion & complete text boxes. Independently: 1. Review (slide 13) watch the PBS video - for visual evidence. 2.Write a “Big Take Away” idea; 2-3 sentences How do living things evolve over time - and WHY?
  • 3.
    WHOA The ones inthe first row LOOK almost the SAME!! fish tortoise pig hare
  • 4.
    Basics of: Comparative Embryology looksat embryos of different species, to show all animals are related. What could we learn from comparing different types of embryos?
  • 5.
    All vertebrate embryos havea similar basic body design. As they grow, we can see the traits that tell them apart Studying this process helps us understand evolution. What does this mean? (summarize) ● Vertebrate embryos have some similar genes.
  • 6.
    Von Baer Karl ErnstVon Baer, came up with four principles of comparative embryology:
  • 7.
    1. Common features canbe seen before specialized features. You can see homologous structures in early embryos. What would this mean?
  • 8.
    2. Common features slowlydevelop into more specialized (complex) features. (specialize into body systems) What would this mean? ●This shows ●BUT
  • 9.
    3. Gill slitsare seen in early human embryos, Von Baer believes it is due to a common ancestor between humans and fish. Embryos of more evolved animals diverge away from more primitive animals. Using this theory, since early human embryos have the same structures as adult fish… What changes happened? Why did they happen?
  • 10.
    4. Embryos ofhigher species look similar to primitive embryos. This shows higher animals and primitive animals... What could this prove?
  • 11.
    Darwin found that differencesbetween species become greater as evolution continues, agreeing with Von Baer’s theories. HERE IS THE SLIDE TITLE! Charles Darwin
  • 12.
    Darwin had twoways to look at evolution 1. Focus on common descent using embryo similarities. OR 2. Focus on modifications to show how structures developed that helped animals adapt to changing conditions. HERE IS THE SLIDE TITLE! Charles Darwin
  • 13.
    Similar structure -from having a common ancestral structure. Like, the wing of a bird and the forelimb of a human are homologous structures. More importantly, their parts are homologous. Similar structure - from doing a similar activity or behavior, NOT a common ancestor. Like, the wing of a moth and wing of a bird are analogous. They have a common function but happened through evolution Homologous Analogous Homologous & Analogous Review PBS VIDEO
  • 14.
    Comparing embryology... What isYour Big Take Away Idea?

Editor's Notes

  • #5 Since all vertebrates have a similar embryo - we could see how things evolve. They start as a single cell, go to multi-cells, to clumps of cells, to a hollow ball of cells - then they differentiate. We could see why/how they change
  • #6 All vertebrates start out looking very similar. We could learn how some species have evolved into others
  • #8 This could show how vertebrate organisms had a common ancestor.
  • #9 This shows embryos of similar groups started in a similar way BUT the similar structures differentiated, so they must have a common ancestor.
  • #10 Embryos of more evolved animals diverge away from more primitive animals. We evolved into more complex beings.
  • #11 Embryos of higher species look similar to primitive embryos. This shows higher animals and primitive animals must have had a common ancestor and just evolved different ways.
  • #14 https://illinois.pbslearningmedia.org/asset/tdc02_vid_embryo/