A CRITICAL EXAMINATION 7 



D. From these observed facts two definite 

 inferences are not only plain, but indeed inescap- 

 able. They are : 



1. That germinal substance is innately possessed 

 of a definite and particular specificity, which 

 reaches, in degree, to the order of the individual, 

 and which finds its most obvious objective 

 expression in the specificity of somatogenesis ; 

 and 



2. That the processes of reproduction are of 

 such a sort as to tend to maintain this specificity 

 from generation to generation. 



In the light of this summary analysis of elemen- 

 tary facts it seems clear that the critical problem 

 of inheritance is the problem of the cause; the ma- 

 terial basis; and the maintenance of the somato- 

 genic specificity of germinal substance. This re- 

 sult is, of course, not novel. Though somewhat 

 differently worded here, it is essentially the same 

 conclusion as was expressed by Conklin^ some 

 years ago, by Jennings,^ and still earlier by 

 Driesch.^ 



Before proceeding to the next division of our 

 program I should like to digress for a moment 

 to point out that there are clearly to be dis- 



1 Conklin, E. G. "The Mechanism of Heredity." Science, N.S., 

 Vol. 27, pp. 89-99, 1908. 



2 Loc. cit. 



3 Driesch, H. "Zwei Beweise fiir die Autonomie von Lebens- 

 vorgangen." Verh. V. Intemat. Zool. Cong., Berlin, 1902. 



