AO. 531] GENOTYPE CONCEPTION OF HEREDITY 139 



typical constitution of the gametes in question. Partic- 

 ular resemblances between an ancestor and one or more 

 of his descendants depend — so far as heredity is re- 

 sponsible—on corresponding particular identities in the 

 genotypical constitution, and, as we have urged here, 

 perhaps to excess, the genotype is not a function of the 

 personal character of any ancestor. 



The genotypic constitution of a gamete or a zygote 

 may be parallelized with a complicated chemico-phys- 

 ical structure. This reacts exclusively in consequence 

 of its realized state, but not in consequence of the 

 history of its creation. So it may be with the geno- 

 typical constitution of gametes and zygotes: its history 

 is without influence upon its reactions, which are de- 

 termined exclusively by its actual nature. 



The genotype-conception is thus an "ahistoric" view 

 of the reactions of living beings— of course only as far 

 as true heredity is concerned. This view is an analog to 

 the chemical view, as already pointed out; chemical com- 

 pounds have no compromising ante-act, IU> is always 

 H 2 0, and reacts always in the same manner, whatsoever 

 may be the "history" of its formation or the earlier 

 states of its elements. I suggest that it is useful to 

 emphasize this "radical" ahistoric genotype-conception 

 of heredity in its strict antagonism to the transmission- 

 or phenotype-view. 



As to the evolution of human civilization we meet with 

 true ancestral influences, viz., the tradition (comprising 

 literature, monuments of art, etc., and all forms of 

 teaching). Tradition is playing a very great role, but 

 tradition is quite different from heredity. Nevertheless 

 there may often be danger of confusion, and here the use 

 of false analogs is not harmless. So an obscure meta- 

 phor is involved in archeologists' reference to Greek 

 temples as "ancestors" of some types of Christian 

 churches, or in their speaking of the descent of violins 

 from more primitive "ancestors." Certainly, evolution 

 of types of tools, instruments and implements of all 

 kinds is — at least partially — going on by means of select- 



