MENDEL' S LAWS AND SOME RECORDS IN 

 EABBIT BREEDING. 



By FREDERICK ADAMS WOODS, M.D. 



OwiNG to the curivnt interest in Meiidcrs Luws of Heredity and tlie hcated 

 discussion going on in sonie quarters as to thi-ir validity, the following records 

 from rabbit breeding niaj' bo of value, in showing what practical application the 

 principles find when applied to a certaiu species of mammals not heretofore 

 studied. 



Within the last year many of the records formerly obtained by breeding mice 

 have been gone over again in light of the Mendelian principles, and in sonie 

 instances there is a clear nniformity with what might be expected, notably the 

 point that albinism is pure recessive and always when mated with itself gives 

 rise to albinos and nothing eise. (Crampe (5) and von Guaita (8).) The waltzing 

 character is also recessive according to Bateson, who in his recent book, Mendel's 

 Principles of Heredity (p. 174), discusses this point. It is, however, not clear 

 that all the results of different observers ean be harnionized with the Mendelian 

 principles. (Conf. Weldon (10) p. 24-i.) 



In view of this condition of the snbject fiirther studies of the old material, as 

 well as new records among other groups of mammals, must be macle beforo we 

 shall know what practical application the experiments of the botanists, Mendel, 

 de Vries, Correns, Spillman, and othors will have when applied in the breeding of 

 animals, or what will be the importance of these reniarkable laws to the student 

 of heredity in it.s widest scope. 



Hats and mice are excellent material for use in this coniiection as they breed 

 true to ccrtain definite types, and do not easily blcnd. The samc is true of 

 rabbits. The progeny of crusscs illiistrate " alternative " inheritance, each off- 



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