Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 19, 2025
06:35
Examining Recall Memory in Infancy and Early Childhood Using the Elicited Imitation Paradigm
Published on: April 28, 2016
34.8K
The developmental hourglass model and recapitulation: An attempt to integrate the two models
Masahiro Uesaka1, Shigeru Kuratani1,2, Naoki Irie3,4
1Laboratory for Evolutionary Morphology, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Japan.
Summary
The recapitulation hypothesis suggests early development mirrors ancestry, but recent studies show mid-embryonic stages are most conserved. This review reconciles these ideas, finding recapitulation patterns in later vertebrate development alongside hourglass conservation.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- The recapitulation hypothesis posits that embryonic development reflects evolutionary history.
- Recent studies support the developmental hourglass model, highlighting mid-embryonic conservation.
- Morphological and molecular data suggest recapitulation may occur in later embryonic stages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the recapitulation hypothesis in light of modern molecular data.
- To reconcile the recapitulation hypothesis with the developmental hourglass model.
- To explore mechanisms underlying evolutionary conservation in vertebrate embryogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on embryogenesis, phylogenetics, and genomics.
- Analysis of transcriptome and chromatin accessibility studies.
- Comparative analysis of developmental patterns across vertebrate species.
Main Results:
- Recapitulation-like features are observed in later embryonic stages.
- Chromatin accessibility data provide molecular evidence for recapitulation in mid-to-late vertebrate embryogenesis.
- Newly evolved gene regulatory elements are activated during late embryonic development.
Conclusions:
- The recapitulation hypothesis and developmental hourglass model are not mutually exclusive.
- Both models may coexist, particularly in later embryonic stages of vertebrates.
- Investigating chromatin accessibility patterns offers insights into evolutionary developmental mechanisms.
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