Ontogeny recapitulates Phylogeny
Ernst Haeckel (1834--1919) followed in von
Baer’s footsteps as the leading
authority in embryology during
the late 1800’s. He developed the concept of Ontogeny recapitulates Phylogeny – Individual development progresses through the adult stages of the organism’s ancestors.
Haeckel’s
ideas on race and human development and
evolution were later incorporated into the pseudo-scientific basis for Nazism