History Comparative anatomy

a posthumous painting of andreas vesalius

around same time, andreas vesalius making strides of own. young anatomist of flemish descent made famous penchant amazing charts, systematically investigating , correcting anatomical knowledge of greek physician galen. noticed many of galen s observations not based on actual humans. instead, based on animals such oxen. until point, galen , teachings had been authority on human anatomy. irony galen himself had emphasized fact 1 should make 1 s own observations instead of using of another, advice lost during numerous translations of work. vesalius began uncover these mistakes, other physicians of time began trust own observations more of galen. interesting observation made of these physicians presence of homologous structures in wide variety of animals included humans. these observations later used darwin formed theory of natural selection.

a drawing edward tyson

edward tyson regarded founder of comparative anatomy. credited determining marine mammals are, in fact, mammals. also, concluded chimpanzees more similar humans monkeys because of arms. marco aurelio severino compared various animals, including birds, in zootomia democritaea, 1 of first works of comparative anatomy. in 18th , 19th century, great anatomists george cuvier, richard owen , thomas henry huxley revolutionized our understanding of basic build , systematics of vertebrates, laying foundation charles darwin s work on evolution. example of 20th-century comparative anatomist victor negus, worked on structure , evolution of larynx. until advent of genetic techniques dna sequencing, comparative anatomy embryology primary tools understanding phylogeny, exemplified work of alfred romer. comparative anatomy still taught, particularly in field of paleontology.