Question

The protonema in early development stages of moss resemble green filaments of algae, thus, favouring

• A. Recapitulation theory
• B. Homology
• C. Atavism
• D. All of the above

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

Recapitulation theory

Von Baer proposed recapitulation theory which was revised and renamed by Haeckel's biogenetic law. According to the theory, all organisms recapitulate evolutionary history of their race in abbreviated form during their development. Haeckel proposed biogenetic law which states that ontogeny repeats phylogeny. Here, ontogeny refers to life history of an individual and phylogeny is the history of evolution of the individual. Thus, appearance of filamentous protonema during development of mosses confirms their algal ancestry as the filamentous protonema resembles filamentous green algae.

Therefore, the correct answer is option A.