comparative embryology
Comparative embryology is the study of the similarities and differences in the embryos of different species. Similarities in embryos are evidence of common ancestry. All vertebrate embryos, for example, have gill slits and tails. Most vertebrates, except for fish, lose their gill slits by adulthood. Some of them also lose their tail. In humans, the tail is reduced to the tail bone. Thus, similarities organisms share as embryos may be gone by adulthood. This is why it is valuable to compare organisms in the embryonic stage. See http://www. pbs. org/wgbh/evolution/library/04/2/pdf/l_042_03. pdf for additional information and a comparative diagram of human, monkey, pig, chicken and salamander embryos.