August Weismann and the Growth of Biological Understanding Between Darwin and the Rediscovery of Mendel

Resonance

article

Amitabh Joshi¹ 

[1] Evolutionary Biology Laboratory Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research Jakkur

关键词: Embryology;    imaginal discs;    meta­morphosis;    germplasm theory of heredity;    evolution of lifespan;    in­heritance of acquired characters.;   

DOI  :  10.1007/s12045-023-1579-3

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

The last four decades of the nineteenth century, between the publication of Darwin's On the Origin of Species in 1859 and the rediscovery of Mendel's work by Carl Correns, Erich von Tschermak and Hugo de Vries in 1900, were quite tumul­tuous for biology. Our understanding of the living world was greatly enhanced, both in detail and conceptual nuance, dur­ing this period, especially with regard to heredity, develop­ment, and evolution. The German biologist August Weis­mann (see accompanying Article-in-Box for a biographical sketch) was one of the most important figures in biology dur­ing those eventful decades and is considered by many to be the most significant evolutionist in the first fifty years after Darwin. He is perhaps best known for his opposition to the admissibility of any inheritance of acquired characteristics. This was based on his notion of the sequestration of germline cells (that would eventually give rise to gametes) early in em­bryonic development, making it impossible for changes in so­matic cells to be transmitted to offspring. However, his work also addressed many other fundamental issues in heredity, development and evolution.

【 授权许可】

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