WHY LIKE BEGETS LIKE 17 



on the nature of the germ plasm from which both alike 

 are formed. Similar material to start with, similar 

 conditions in which to develop therefore like begets 

 like. 



The body simply guards and nourishes the germ plasm. 

 Hence (if the theory of germinal continuity be correct) 

 it appears inconceivable that modifications adaptions 

 of the body to outside conditions, the effects of educa- 

 tion or of the use or disuse of parts should be inherited. 

 By this we do not wish to imply that nothing can affect 

 the nature of the germ plasm. We know, on the con- 

 trary, that many things can. But the effect of any con- 

 dition on the body cells will not be reproduced, in any 

 representative manner, through the germ plasm. 



How far these deductions from the theory of germinal 

 continuity agree with the observed facts of heredity, 

 will be discussed in the following chapters. 



