1892. ] What is an “ Acquired Character.” 1011 
my inability to see why this variation is not qualitative 
as well.” 
Are not the qualities of organs and tissues affected by 
external conditions, such as quality of food, temperature, 
etc.? What justification can be found for maintaining 
that the germ cell is the only cell in the body not thus 
affected, after having admitted that quantitative effects are 
thus produced? This concession of a quantitative modifica- 
tion of the germ cell by external conditions, acting through 
the soma, throws the burden of proof that qualitative modifica- 
tions are not likewise effected entirely on the NeoDarwinian side 
of the controversy. 
But these determining causes which “ modify the phylogeny 
of descendants,” and hence the descendants themselves, pro- 
duce modifications which Professor Weismann considers 
“blastogenic,”* although expressly described as acting by 
external stimuli through the soma. Hence the Lamarckians 
cannot use any examples of the manifest of modifications 
brought about in this way, as, although the changes brought 
about are somatogenic by definition, they are blastogenic by the 
a priori NeoDarwinian argument. In other words, as soon as 
a somatogenic variation is inherited it is immediately relegated 
to the list of blastogenic variations by the NeoDarwinians. 
The argument could be put in this way, according to Weis- 
mann. “The obvious means by which all inheritance of all 
transmitted peculiarities takes place is the continuity of the 
germ plasm.” . 
Any peculiarity thus inherited is blastogenic. 
Ergo, any peculiarity which is inherited is blastogenic. As 
soon as any character, however obviously acquired, is proven 
by the Lamarckians to be inherited, the NeoDarwinians com- 
placently pronounce that character blastogenic, or not acquired. 
d so it comes to pass that no acquired character can satisfy 
the requirements of the case, if that character is so unfortunate 
as to be transmitted. 
«We have an obvious means by which the inheritance of all transmitted 
peculiarities takes place, in the continuity of the substance of the germ-cells or germ- 
blasm.” (Weismann) P. 105. 
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