Karl Ernst von Baer

Karl Ernst von Baer was a pioneering 19th-century biologist from Russia who significantlyadvanced our understanding of embryology and development. He discovered that all animals develop from a common early stage and identified the ovum or egg as the initial form in animal reproduction. Baer formulated fundamental principles about how embryos grow and differentiate into various tissues and organs. His work helped establish the science of developmental biology, emphasizing that despite differences, all vertebrates share common developmental origins, highlighting the unity of life and evolution.