CONTENTS. · Introduction 165

From Essays Upon Heredity and Kindred Biological Problems by August Weismann.

I. The Germ-Plasm 174

1. Historical development of the theory as to the 174 localization of the germ-plasm in the nucleus

2. Nägeli’s ‘idioplasm’ is not identical with Weismann’s 180 ‘germ-plasm’

3. A retransformation of somatic idioplasm into germ- 183 idioplasm does not take place

4. Confirmation of the theory as to the significance of the 185 nuclear substance afforded by Nussbaum’s and Gruber’s experiments on regeneration in Infusoria

5. The nucleoplasm changes during ontogeny according to a 186 certain law

6. The identity of the daughter-nuclei produced by indirect 187 nuclear division, as assumed by Strasburger, is not necessary for my theory

7. The gradual decrease in complexity of the structure of 190 the nucleus during ontogeny

8. Nägeli’s view on the germs (‘Anlagen’) in the idioplasm 192

9. The manner in which germ-cells arise from somatic cells 194

10. ’Embryonic’ cells in the mature organism 196

11. The rule of probability is against a retransformation of 198 somatic idioplasm into germ-plasm

12. The regular cyclical development of the idioplasm 199 founded upon phylogeny by Nägeli

13. It follows from phyletic considerations that the germ- 201 cells have not arisen at the end of ontogeny

14. They originally arose at the beginning of ontogeny, but 202 at a later period the time of their origin was displaced

15. A continuity of the germ-cells does not now exist in 205 most cases

16. But there is a continuity of the germ-plasm 205

17. Strasburger’s objection to my supposition that the germ- 209 plasm passes along distinct routes

18. The cell-body may remain unchanged when the nucleus is 210 changed

19. It is conceivable that all somatic nuclei may contain 211 some germ-plasm

II. The Significance of the Polar Bodies 212

1. The egg-cell contains two kinds of idioplasm; germ-plasm 213 and histogenetic nucleoplasm

2. The expulsion of the polar bodies signifies the removal 214 of the histogenetic nucleoplasm

3. Other theories as to the significance of the polar 214 bodies

4. The modes of occurrence of polar bodies 217

5. Their possible occurrence in male germ-cells 219

6. There are two kinds of nucleoplasm in the male germ- 219 cells

7. Polar bodies in plants 222

8. Morphological origin of polar bodies 223

III. On the Nature of Parthenogenesis 225

1. The phenomena exhibited in the maturation of the egg are 225 identical in parthenogenetic and sexual development

2. The difference between parthenogenetic and sexual cells 226 must be of a quantitative nature

3. The quantity of the germ-plasm determines development 227

4. The expulsion of polar bodies depends upon the 230 antagonism between germ-plasm and ovogenetic nucleoplasm

5. Fertilization does not act dynamically 231

6. An insufficient quantity of germ-plasm arrests 232 development

7. Relation of the nucleus to the cell 234

8. The case of the bee does not constitute any objection to 234 my theory

9. Strasburger’s views upon parthenogenesis 237

10. Parthenogenesis does not depend upon abundant nutrition 239

11. The indirect causes of sexual and parthenogenetic 241 reproduction

12. The direct causes 242

13. Explanation of the formation of nutritive cells 243

14. Identity of the germ-plasm in male and female germ-cells 246

Note 249

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