Cope 257 
sion there with the emphytogenic (inherited) energy 
into bathmism (or evolutionary energy).” 198 
From this he at once diaws the conclusion that as 
soon as a new character is acquired by the soma in con- 
sequence of a definite stimulus, it appears at the same 
time in the germ plasm also. This simultaneous double 
acquisition of the same character by the soma and by 
the germ represents his theory of “diplogenesis:” ‘“The 
effects of use and disuse are twofold; viz.: the effect on 
the soma and the effect on the germ plasm. Those who 
sustain the view that acquired characters are inherited 
must I believe understand it as thus stated. The char- 
acter must be potentially acquired by the germ plasm 
as well as actually by the soma. Those who insist that 
acquired characters are not inherited forget that the 
character acquired by the soma is identical with that 
acquired by the germ plasm, so that the character acquired 
by the former is inherited but not directly. It is 
acquired contemporaneously by the germ plasm and in- 
herited from it. There is then truth in the two appar- 
ently opposed positions, and they appear ta me to be 
harmonized by this theory of diplogenesis.” *** 
It is almost unnecessary in this connection to remark 
that, if one sticks to the letter, this supposed double 
acquisition of the same character by the soma and by 
the germ, lacks any foundation in fact and indeed appears 
inconceivable. For in the first place the two experi- 
ments quoted above concern phenomena too special, too 
complex, and as yet too little analysed to permit of 
their utilization as foundations for any theory. In the 
183Cope: The primary Factors of organic Evolution. Chicago. 
The Open Court publishing Company. 1896. P. 440. 
1%4Cope: Ibid. P. 442, 443. 
