Caspar Friedrich Wolff (18 January 1733 – 22 February 1794) was a German physiologist and embryologist who is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of modern embryology.

from the University of Halle with his dissertation "Theoria Generationis", where he revived and supported the theory of epigenesis previously proposed by Aristotle and William Harvey.

In 1768–1769, he published his best work in embryology on the development of the intestine; of which 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 Marcello 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 Heinz Christian Pander and Karl Ernst von Baer.

Wolff contended that the organs of animals make their appearance gradually and that he could actually follow their successive stages of formation.