384 ON THE NUMBEK OF POLAR BODIES, ETC. 



From the preceding- facts and considerations the important con- 

 clusion results that the germ-cells of any individual do not contain 

 the same hereditary tendencies, but are all different, in that no two 

 of them contain exactly the same combinations of hereditary ten- 

 dencies. On this fact the well-known differences between the 

 children of the same parents depend. 



But the deeper meaning of this arrangement must doubtless be 

 sought for in the individual variability which is thus continuously 

 kept up and is always being forced into new combinations. Thus 

 sexual reproduction is to be explained as an arrangement which 

 ensures an ever- varying supply of individual differences. 



