Article from Focus Press by Brad Harrub, Ph.D.
“Ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny.” This phrase, often heard in freshman biology classes, was coined by 19th century German biologist Ernst Haeckel to describe the idea that the human embryo re-plays the steps of evolution as it develops. Specifically, this theory says that human embryos pass through a progression of abbreviated stages in the womb that resembles primary evolutionary stages (e.g., fish, amphibian, reptile) during the course of development.
While Haeckel’s name might not sound familiar to you, one of the drawings he used to bolster his theory probably is. This now-familiar illustration of embryos of fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals lined up side-by-side is a common staple in most biology and embryology textbooks. This single figure has altered the public consciousness and has become one of the best known “evidences” for evolution. Addi-tionally, some individuals use this principle of “recapitulation” to justify abortion (they argue that after all, at various stages the human embryo is no different from a fish or reptile).
There is only one small problem. Haeckel’s illustration was a fake! He drew the human embryo to look just like the early embryo of the fish, amphibian, and reptile—but it doesn’t. Ironically, the fact that these drawings are a fraud is “old-hat” to biologists. History records that Haeckel was accused of scientific fraud by his peers. Recognition of his falsehoods still appears in scientific journals, as noted in a letter to the editor in the May 15, 1998 issue of Science.
We could ignore this pathetic chapter in the history of evolutionism—were it still so popularly used in American textbooks. Even Dr. Benjamin Spock saw fit to perpetuate Haeckel’s recapitulation myth in his well-known book, Baby and Child Care. Spock confidently assured expectant mothers that “each child as he develops is retracing the whole history of mankind, physically and spiritually, step by step. A baby starts off in the womb as a single tiny cell, just the way the first living thing appeared in the ocean. Weeks later, as he lies in the amniotic fluid of the womb, he has gills like a fish” (1998, p. 223).
Make sure your children and grandchildren know when they see these drawings that they are fakes. Humans beings never look like a fish, amphibian or reptile when they are growing in the womb. We were made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27), and we must make sure our young people know (and believe) this.
[Brad Harrub is a professional apologists who works with Focus Press. http://www.focuspress.org]
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