IO4 Heredity and Social Progress 



even memories; but brain action must have 

 some other explanation, or at least some other 

 combination of the elements upon which bodily 

 actions depend. 



In this explanation I shall rely on a few 

 simple facts already offered : first, the highest 

 cell is the undifferentiated germ cell ; second, 

 where growth dominates over reproduction, 

 germs may be enclosed within the body ; and 

 third, the folds created by rapid growth be- 

 come ovaries, where sex products generate. 1 



1 An ovary may be defined as a place where sex products are 

 confined. If they are due to folds, these folds may be external 

 or internal as the folds open outward or inward. The external 

 ovaries would naturally discharge their products, in which case 

 fertilization by sexual means could take place. But the internal 

 ovaries cannot thus discharge their products. They can at best 

 become buds and gain independence by severing the original 

 organism. Growth by buds may thus be a combination of 

 reproduction and regeneration. The inner part doubles, but 

 the outer part is divided and the missing parts of each portion 

 are regenerated. In the case of the alternation of generations 

 it would seem that in one form the ovary is internal, and the 

 growth is by budding, while in the other the ovary is ex- 

 ternal and reproduction is sexual. It may also be said that 

 growth by budding is alone possible where growth dominates 

 largely over reproduction. Then all the ovaries become enclosed, 

 and sexual reproduction is impossible until the growth forces 

 are much weakened. There may be many generations of asexual 

 reproduction. 



