Comparative Embryology

Comparative embryology is a branch of developmental biology that compares the formation of different organisms. It studies the stages of embryonic development in different organisms to identify similarities and differences between species. The knowledge gained from this comparison elucidates the evolutionary history of organisms and highlights the mechanisms that underlie embryogenesis. Comparative embryology has been key to understanding gene regulation, cell differentiation, morphogenesis and other fundamental biological processes, as well as elucidating evolutionary relationships between species. It may be used to generate hypotheses in evolutionary biology, as well as in biomedicine and agriculture.