252 THE GERM-PLASM 



and in Hiiiianthalia lorea only a single egg and seven polar 

 bodies are formed.* 



We have here, however, no information as regards the reducing 

 divisions, which, as 1 pointed out long ago, need not by any 

 means be connected with the degeneration of several germ-cells. 

 We can only state that the three successive divisions of the 

 primary ovum, which occur in all the above-mentioned cases, 

 ai^'ords more than sufficient opportunity for one or even two 

 reducing divisions, and that it is extremely probable that one, at 

 least, actually occurs. 



We may therefore assume that in plants very varied com- 

 binations of the germ-plasm derived from each parent usually 

 take place in the germ-cells of the offspring, and that perfectly 

 '■ identic al' germ-cells can very rarely occur either in plants or 

 in animals. 



* Cf. Oilman's ' Beitrage zur Kentniss der Fiicaceen,' Cassel, 1889. 



