Embryological support for evolution was disproved by

The correct answer is Option (3) → Karl Ernst Von Baer

Option (1) Alexander Von Humboldt — Incorrect. Alexander von Humboldt studied species richness and found that it increases with the area explored. He had no role in the embryological support for evolution.

Option (2) Paul Ehrlich — Incorrect. Paul Ehrlich, a Stanford ecologist, gave the rivet popper hypothesis on biodiversity. He did not work on embryology.

Option (3) Karl Ernst Von Baer — Correct. Of the four scientists, only Karl Ernst von Baer worked on embryos, and he disproved Haeckel’s idea.

Option (4) Hugo de Vries — Incorrect. Hugo de Vries worked on the evening primrose and proposed mutation (saltation) as the cause of evolution. It was Karl Ernst von Baer who disproved Haeckel’s embryological support.

NCERT Extract:
What Are the Evidences for Evolution? – “… Embryological support for evolution was also proposed by Ernst Heckel based upon the observation of certain features during embryonic stage common to all vertebrates that are absent in adult. For example, the embryos of all vertebrates including human develop a row of vestigial gill slit just behind the head but it is a functional organ only in fish and not found in any other adult vertebrates. However, this proposal was disapproved on careful study performed by Karl Ernst von Baer. He noted that embryos never pass through the adult stages of other animals.”