1807-1882

German physician recognized for his work in comparative embryology. Born in Hanover, Germany, he received both M.D. and Ph.D. degrees and was a professor at Bonn, Heidelberg, Giessen, and Munich universities. He first described the maturation and release of eggs from the ovary, although he did not recognize the role of sperm in fertilization. He compared the embryological development of many animals including rabbits, guinea pigs, deer, and dogs, as well as humans. He wrote on the fetal development of the human brain and compared human embryology to the development in apes.