Changes

<small>''Pharyngula'' can also refer to a [[blog]] written and posted by [[Paul Zachary Myers|P.Z. Myers]]. See [[Pharyngula_(blog)]].</small>

<small>''Pharyngula'' can also refer to a [[blog]] written and posted by [[Paul Zachary Myers|P.Z. Myers]]. See [[Pharyngula (blog)]].</small>

'''Pharyngula''' is a term used by [[evolutionists]] to describe a hypothetical phylotypic stage of development in [[embryology]].<ref>http://zfin.org/zf_info/zfbook/stages/phar.html Pharyngual Period]</ref>  

'''Pharyngula''' is a term used by [[evolutionists]] to describe a hypothetical phylotypic stage of development in [[embryology]].<ref>[http://zfin.org/zf_info/zfbook/stages/phar.html Pharyngual Period]</ref>  

It is mistakenly thought by most [[evolution|evolutionists]] that this stage represents the basic vertebrate body plan in the [[common descent | common ancestor]] of all vertebrates.<ref>http://creation.com/embryonic-recapitulation-questions-and-answers</ref>  There is currently a dispute among scientists as to how similar embryos are and to the reality of this stage. <ref name= callazo>

It is mistakenly thought by most [[evolution]]ists that this stage represents the basic vertebrate body plan in the [[common descent|common ancestor]] of all vertebrates.<ref name="creation.com">http://creation.com/embryonic-recapitulation-questions-and-answers</ref>  There is currently a dispute among scientists as to how similar embryos are and to the reality of this stage.<ref name= callazo>

Callazo, A. (2000). Developmental variation, homology and the pharyngula stage. Systematic Biology 49:1, 3-18. [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=1063-5157(200003)49%3A1%3C3%3ADVHATP%3E2.0.CO%3B2-F]</ref>

Callazo, A. (2000). Developmental variation, homology and the pharyngula stage. Systematic Biology 49:1, 3-18. [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=1063-5157(200003)49%3A1%3C3%3ADVHATP%3E2.0.CO%3B2-F]</ref>

==Conserved morphology==

==Conserved morphology==

There are six stages to embryonic development, and the pharyngula stage is towards the middle. In the early stages of development there is significant diversity in the morphology of embryos, this diversity decreases over time till the pharyngula stage where they are most similar (often difficult for anyone but trained embryologist to differentiate), and finally in the last stages of development morphology diversifies again. <ref>[http://zfin.org/zf_info/zfbook/stages/stages.html Embryo Stages]</ref> It is hypothesized that the reason the pharyngula stage is so morphologically constrained is that this is the point where sequential activation of [[hox genes]] is initiated so any strong deviations from the developmental plan would lead to drastic changes in the final phenotype of the organism. <ref name= callazo />

There are six stages to embryonic development, and the pharyngula stage is towards the middle. In the early stages of development there is significant diversity in the morphology of embryos, this diversity decreases over time till the pharyngula stage where they are most similar (often difficult for anyone but trained embryologist to differentiate), and finally in the last stages of development morphology diversifies again.<ref>[http://zfin.org/zf_info/zfbook/stages/stages.html Embryo Stages]</ref> It is hypothesized that the reason the pharyngula stage is so morphologically constrained is that this is the point where sequential activation of [[hox genes]] is initiated so any strong deviations from the developmental plan would lead to drastic changes in the final phenotype of the organism.<ref name= callazo />

==Observable structures==

==Observable structures==

==History and criticism==

==History and criticism==

The concept of a highly conserved [[ontogeny]] dates back to 1828 and the work by [[Karl von Baer]].  Baer's work was cited by [[Charles Darwin]] and used in support of his [[Theory of Evolution]]. The concept was made famous though by Ernst Haeckel in 1874 with the publication of his drawings of the conserved stage. Haeckel was mainly pushing the concept of [[recapitulation]] in which he hypothesized that ontological development repeated the evolutionary steps of the organism. Recapitulation has since been discredited and is not accepted by any modern [[biologist]]. Haeckel has been accused of falsifying his embryonic drawings, most notably by Jonathan Wells in his book Icons of Evolution.<ref>http://www.iconsofevolution.com/</ref> Some biology text books used Haeckel's drawings for many years after it was known they were faked. However, most modern biology textbooks only use them now for historical reference and actual photos of embryos are used to discuss the pharyngula stage.<ref>http://creation.com/embryonic-recapitulation-questions-and-answers</ref><ref>http://creation.com/appendix-1-common-arguments-for-evolution-that-have-been-rejected</ref><ref>http://chem.tufts.edu/AnswersInScience/Coyne-IconsReview.htm</ref>

The concept of a highly conserved [[ontogeny]] dates back to 1828 and the work by [[Karl von Baer]].  Baer's work was cited by [[Charles Darwin]] and used in support of his [[Theory of Evolution]]. The concept was made famous though by Ernst Haeckel in 1874 with the publication of his drawings of the conserved stage. Haeckel was mainly pushing the concept of [[recapitulation]] in which he hypothesized that ontological development repeated the evolutionary steps of the organism. Recapitulation has since been discredited and is not accepted by any modern [[biologist]]. Haeckel has been accused of falsifying his embryonic drawings, most notably by Jonathan Wells in his book Icons of Evolution.<ref>http://www.iconsofevolution.com/</ref> Some biology text books used Haeckel's drawings for many years after it was known they were faked. However, most modern biology textbooks only use them now for historical reference and actual photos of embryos are used to discuss the pharyngula stage.<ref name="creation.com"/><ref>http://creation.com/appendix-1-common-arguments-for-evolution-that-have-been-rejected</ref><ref>http://chem.tufts.edu/AnswersInScience/Coyne-IconsReview.htm</ref>

== See also ==

== See also ==

''Pharyngula'' can also refer to a [[blog]] written and posted by [[Paul Zachary Myers|P.Z. Myers]]. See [[Pharyngula_(blog)]].

''Pharyngula'' can also refer to a [[blog]] written and posted by [[Paul Zachary Myers|P.Z. Myers]]. See [[Pharyngula (blog)]].

==References==

==References==

<references />

<references />

[[category:biology]]

[[Category:Biology]]