The Inheritance of a Somatic Variation in Maize 35 
heritance just as if they were hybrids between self-red 
and variegated races or between self -red and non-red 
races, the behavior in any given case depending npon 
whether the parent variegated ears were homozygous or 
heterozygous for variegated pericarp and whether they 
were self-pollinated or crossed with white. 
It is suggested that these results may be interpreted by 
the assumption that a genetic factor for variegation, V, 
is changed to a self-color factor, S, in a somatic cell. All 
pericarp cells directly descended from this modified cell 
will, it is assumed, develop color, and of the gametes aris- 
ing from such modified cells one half will carry the 8 
factor and one half the V factor if only one of the two V 
factors of the somatic cells is changed, or all such gametes 
will carry 8 if both V factors are changed. 
The V factor is thought of as a sort of temporary, re- 
cessive inhibitor that sooner or later permanently loses 
its power to inhibit color development, becoming thereby 
an 8 factor. Or it may be that the dominant factor, S, 
is temporarily inactive, but sooner or later becomes per- 
manently active. Again, the S factor may repeatedly 
arise de novo. The cause of any such change in factors 
is beyond intelligent discussion at present. 
The results of Correns with Mirabilis and of de Vries 
with Antirrhinum are shown to be subject to the same 
analysis as that used to interpret the results secured with 
maize. 
