19° Dynamic Evolution 



division is greatest at the beginning of life 

 and the greatest functional capacity is near 

 the end of life. A compound of the two should 

 be maximum at some point between the two. 

 As applied to germ cells, the maximum of 

 fecundity should be, not at the beginning of 

 the production of germ cells, but some little 

 time later. Thus, in the case of hens, the 

 maximum of fecundit}', as indicated by num- 

 ber of eggs produced in a given time, appears 

 some months after she begins to lay. We 

 have seen before that the functional charac- 

 teristics dominant in the offspring are those 

 which were dominant in the parent at the 

 time the offspring was conceived. Hence, 

 to increase laying capacity, eggs for hatching 

 should be taken which are produced by hens 

 when they are in their period of greatest 

 fecundity. 



In the process of evolution from short life 

 to long life it is necessary that the fertile 

 period be extended at the same time that life 

 is extended, otherwise there would be a limit 

 to extending life by later reproduction. That 



