LECTURE XIII. 

 THE INHERITANCE OF ACQUIRED CHARACTERS. 



An acquired character one gained after birth as a 

 result of action or non-action, or of reaction from 

 environment. Distinguished from an innate char- 

 acter carried over in process of heredity. An acquired 

 character not a new thing, hut one resulting from 

 change in relative development of organs or qualities. 

 Results of winning or losing in life, as the "gate of 

 gifts closed " at birth. Is it closed rather with amphi- 

 mixis ? with process of conception ? 



Affirmative View. Neo-Lamarckism. 



The parable of the owl and the egg. McFarland's 

 application of it to the present problem. Which is 

 first, the soma or the ovum ? Can the life experiences 

 of the soma affect the ovum ? Are latent and de- 

 veloped characters alike inherited ? 



" All that has been acquired, begun, or changed in 

 the structure of individuals in their life time is pre- 

 served in reproduction and transmitted to the new 

 individuals which spring from those who have in- 

 herited the change." Lamarck : Fourth Law of Evolu- 

 tion. 



" Change of function produces change of structure ; 

 it is a tenable hypothesis that changes of structure so 

 produced are inherited." Herbert Spencer. (1) The 

 Darwinian principle : Natural selection. (2) The sup- 



