30 An Examination of Weismannism. 



of a somatic-cell as " somato-plasm," is now discarded ; 

 and in its stead we have all nuclear matter (whether 

 of germ-cells or somatic-cells) comprised under the one 

 denomination of " nucleo-plasm/' in contradistinction 

 to all the other protoplasm of a cell, which is called 

 "cytoplasm." Hence Weismann now regards the 

 cytoplasm of a germ-cell as identical with the cytoplasm 

 of all other cells. Its function is merely that of 

 " nourishing " the nucleus, while, on the other hand, it 

 is ' ; controlled " by the nucleus as to its own growth, 

 shape, size, and eventual division. 



But it is evident that the nucleo-plasm of a germ-cell 

 must differ from the nucleo-plasm of a somatic-cell, in 

 that it not only " controls " the growth, &c. of its own 

 cell, but likewise presents all the additional characters 

 peculiar to a germ-cell. That is to say, the nucleo- 

 plasm of a germ-cell resembles the nucleo-plasm of 

 a somatic-cell in that it is nourished by, and exercises 

 control over, the cytoplasm of its own particular cell ; 

 but it differs from the nucleo-plasm of a somatic-cell 

 in admitting of fertilization, in the capability of 

 reproducing an entire organism, in the endowing of 

 that organism with all its hereditary characters, and, 

 lastly, in providing for its own reproduction in the next 

 generation. 



Thus it is evident, as Weismann puts it, that the 

 nucleo-plasm of a germ-cell must be of two kinds — 

 one being- concerned with the formation and control of 

 the germ-cell only, while the other has to do with the 

 construction of an entire future organism, and the sub- 

 sequent reproduction thereof. But not only so ; for at 

 each stage in the construction of this future organism, 

 ail the somatic-cells, as successively constructed, must 



