THE CHRCMOSOAIES OF HUMAN SPERMATOCYTES 



H. L. WIEMAN 



University of Cincinnati 



FOUR PLATES 



An explanation of the remarkable difference in the concUi- 

 sions of von Winiwarter on the one hand and those of Guyer 

 and ^Montgomery on the other, concerning the chromosomes 

 in human spermatogenesis, has been sought in the fact that 

 while von Winiwarter based his opinion on a study of the germ 

 cells of white men, Guyer and Montgomery studied negro ma- 

 terial (Guyer, '14, Morgan, '14). That there should be a dif- 

 ference in the number and behavior of the chromosomes in two 

 races of animals does not strike one as an utter impossibility, 

 but that the black race should possess 22 and 24 chromosomes, 

 in the male and female respectively, while the white race should 

 have approximately twice that number, namely, 47 in the male 

 and 48 in the female, is rather astonishing to say the least; 

 and certainly invites further investigation. 



I have had opportunity for some years past to study human 

 chromosomes both in the germ cycle and in embryos. In the 

 fall of 1915, however, I succeeded in securing specimens of both 

 white and negro testes, preserved within two hours after death, 

 which on examination proved extremely favorable for a com- 

 parative study of the chromosomes of the two races. 



The white material was obtained from a healthy white man, 

 37 years of age, who died from a stab wound (Cincinnati Gen- 

 eral Hospital Case No. 5749). The negro material was secured 

 from a medical case (Cincinnati General Hospital Case No. 3463). 

 Alicroscopic examination and comparison with other negro 

 testes in my possession showed an active and healthy prolifera- 

 tion of germ cells that appeared to be entirely normal. For this 



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THE AMKRICAX JOURNAL OF ANATOMY, VOL. 21, NO. 1, 

 JANCART, 1917 



