Mendel's principles of heredity: A defence — John Shaqi
Mendel's principles of heredity: A defenceMendel, Gregor
Science
Mendel's principles of heredity: A defence
Mendel, Gregor
Heredity; Hybridization; Mendel's law; Weldon, Walter Frank Raphael. Mendel's laws of alternative inheritance in peas
In addition, further experiments were made with a smaller number
of experimental plants in which the remaining characters by twos
and threes were united as hybrids: all yielded approximately the
same results. There is therefore no doubt that for the whole of
the characters involved in the experiments the principle applies
that _the offspring of the hybrids in which several essentially
different characters are combined represent the terms of a series
of combinations, in which the developmental series for each pair of
differentiating characters are associated_. It is demonstrated at the
same time that _the relation of each pair of different characters
in hybrid union is independent of the other differences in the two
original parental stocks_.
If _n_ represent the number of the differentiating characters in
the two original stocks, 3^{_n_} gives the number of terms of the
combination series, 4^{_n_} the number of individuals which belong to
the series, and 2^{_n_} the number of unions which remain constant.
The series therefore embraces, if the original stocks differ in four
characters, 3^4 = 81 of classes, 4^4 = 256 individuals, and 2^4 = 16
constant forms; or, which is the same, among each 256 offspring of the
hybrids there are 81 different combinations, 16 of which are constant.
All constant combinations which in Peas are possible by the combination
of the said seven differentiating characters were actually obtained
by repeated crossing. Their number is given by 2^7 = 128. Thereby is
simultaneously given the practical proof _that the constant characters
which appear in the several varieties of a group of plants may be
obtained in all the associations which are possible according to the
[mathematical] laws of combination, by means of repeated artificial
fertilisation_.
As regards the flowering time of the hybrids, the experiments are
not yet concluded. It can, however, already be stated that the
period stands almost exactly between those of the seed and pollen
parents, and that the constitution of the hybrids with respect to
this character probably happens in the same way as in the case of the
other characters. The forms which are selected for experiments of this
class must have a difference of at least twenty days from the middle
flowering period of one to that of the other; furthermore, the seeds
when sown must all be placed at the same depth in the earth, so that
they may germinate simultaneously. Also, during the whole flowering
period, the more important variations in temperature must be taken into
account, and the partial hastening or delaying of the flowering which
may result therefrom. It is clear that this experiment presents many
difficulties to be overcome and necessitates great attention.
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