Wolff, Friedrich Kaspar (1733-1794) German anatomist; founder of modern embryology; several embryological structures are named after him. A century after Harvey, became the most celebrated proponent of epigenesis; Wolff was able to observe microscopically the building up of the chick embryo and he saw no evidence of an encapsulated chick in the egg. Ranked by some as the foremost student of embryology prior to von Baer. His Theoria Generationis was published in 1759; consisting of three parts devoted to (1) development of plants, (2) development of animals, and (3) theoretical considerations. He contended that the organs of animals make their appearance gradually and that he could actually follow their successive stages of formation. Wolff was the discoverer of the primitive kidneys, or "Wolffian bodies." According to Locy, since he assumed a total lack of organization in the beginning, he was obliged to make development "miraculous" through the action on the egg of a hyperphysical agent; from a total lack of organization, he conceived of its being lifted to the highly organized product through the action of a "vis essentialis corporis." In 1768-1769, he published his best work in embryology on the development of the intestine; of which von Baer said, "It is the greatest masterpiece of scientific observation which we possess." Again, according to Locy, while Wolff’s investigations for Theoria Generationis did not reach the level of Malpighi’s, those of the paper of 1768 surpassed them and held the position of the best piece of embryological work up to that of Pander and von Baer. Wolff’s De Formatione Intestinorum rather than his Theoria Generationis embodies his greatest contribution to embryology; in it he foreshadows the idea of germ layers in the embryo, which, under Pander and von Baer, became the fundamental conception in structural embryology- he laid the foundation for the germ layer theory. Wolff foreshadowed the germ layer theory by showing that the material out of which the embryo is constructed is, in an early stage of development, arranged in the form of leaf-like layers. Locy recognizes Wolff as the foremost investigator in embryology before von Baer. (William A. Locy, Biology and its Makers, Henry Holt and Company, New York, 1908)
Source: Frank J. Dye, Dictionary of Developmental Biology and Embryology, Wiley-Liss, New York, 2002
CasparFriedrichWolff (January 18, 1734 in Berlin, Germany - February 22, 1794 in St.Petersburg, Russia) is one of the founders of embryology.
Wolff’s "De Formatione Intestinorum" rather than his "Theoria Generationis" embodies his greatest contribution to embryology; in it he foreshadows the idea of germ layers in the embryo, which, under Pander and von Baer, became the fundamental conception in structural embryology- he laid the foundation for the germ layer theory.
Wolff foreshadowed the germ layer theory by showing that the material out of which the embryo is constructed is, in an early stage of development, arranged in the form of leaf-like layers.
"The case stood thus, when suddenly, in the year 1759, CasparFriedrichWolff, then a young man, appeared, and with his new Theory of Epigenesis gave the death-blow to the entire Theory of Pre-formation.
He was the son of a tailor, and studied natural science and medicine at first in Berlin, at the Medico-surgical College, under the celebrated anatomist Meckel, and subsequently in Balle.
"According to Wolff's observations, the different organic systems of the embryo are formed and completed successfully; first, the nervous system, then the skin covering the embryo, third the vascular system, and finally the intestinal canal.
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