Final answer:
Comparative embryology supports the concept of evolution by revealing temporary embryonic features common across different species, suggestive of a shared ancestor. Homologous and vestigial structures observed in embryonic development further confirm the relatedness and evolutionary progression among diverse organisms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Comparative embryology analyzes developmental stages of different species to find similarities that suggest a common ancestor. For instance, all vertebrate embryos, including humans, have gill slits and tails during early development.
These features often disappear as the embryos develop into adult forms; terrestrial vertebrates lose their gill slits, and great ape embryos, which include humans, lose their tail structure. However, these temporary embryonic structures serve as evidence for evolution, indicating relatedness between species that now appear quite different.
Homologous structures are another example of how comparative embryology and anatomy provide insights into evolutionary history. The presence of similar structures in the embryos that develop into different adult forms in various species points to a shared lineage.
These structures signify the conserved embryological blueprints set by a common ancestor, even though specific traits may alter through evolution, resulting in the diverse organisms we observe today. Some structures may become vestigial as species evolve, like the pelvic bones in some snakes that descend from reptilian ancestors with legs.
These vestigial structures, along with developmental similarities observed through comparative embryology, underscore the dynamic process of evolution and the shared heritage among different forms of life.