Word: plasm
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Dates: during 1920-1929
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...hereditary characteristics had been known for generations) suddenly brought forth anomalies with curiously colored eyes, unreasonable wings, radically bobbed hair antennae. New species came into existence, the special marks of the X-ray were transmitted down the generations. Biologist Muller tried the effect of other agents on the germ plasm. Treatment with lead, arsenic, poisons which were known to change cells had no effect. X-rays and cosmic rays are the only forces in nature that can shake up the germ cells, changing their original plan of development, making the changes hereditary in many cases. X-rays and cosmic rays...
...June 18, Dec. 10), who believes he has experimental proof of the inheritance of acquired characteristics. Dr. Kammerer, though now in this country, was not invited to Cincinnati. Most American biologists, while recognizing that animals or plants may have experiences (poisons, for instance), which affect the germ plasm in such a way as to cause changes in the progeny, say that Dr. Kammerer's methods have not met sufficiently critical tests to justify his conclusions. Replying to MacDougal from New York, Kammerer questioned the open-mindedness of American biologists...
...Eugenics, which seeks to improve the race negatively by the elimination of 'defective germ plasm and the selection of superior parents, will be supplanted by the positive or "euthenic" element of building up and strengthening good traits and dispositions in the individual. Thus a race of supermen will develop naturally from normal parents...
...ancestors had to stretch to reach the foliage), was taken over in part by Darwin, who believed it to be one of the methods through which natural selection operates. Biologists then reacted from this doctrine until the opposite extreme was reached in August Weismann, whose theory that the germ-plasm of each generation is handed on and remains distinct from the body cells, logically excludes the transmission of acquired traits. Weismannism has held the field since 1890 and still dominates the thinking of most biologists...