On the Nature of Fertilization and Sex. 185 
The latter, ( b ), determine the characteristics of the gametes, 
but have no necessary correlation with the Mendelian 
character factors carried by the gametes. 
Although the sex factors may not directly influence the 
nature of the gametes, the converse is not necessarily true. 1 It 
remains to enquire whether the gender factors which determine the 
nature of the gametes have any influence upon the character of the 
zygote. 
In a symbiotic organism such as a lichen, one may expect the 
plant to show variations in the direction of being more algal or 
more fungal in nature, in accordance with the characters of the 
strains of alga and fungus entering into its composition, and this is 
indeed the case. Similarly the zygote, if its dual structure be admit¬ 
ted, might be expected to exhibit variations as regards “ activity ” or 
“passivity”—the exact position of equilibrium between the two 
tendencies which characterise the gametes depending upon the 
strains of androplasmic and gynoplasmic protoplasm that combined 
at fertilization. This, be it noted, has nothing whatever to do 
with the sex of the organism (zygote) which is controlled by the sex 
factors—the question is purely one concerning “ gametic ” qualities. 
It is submitted that what is known of the physiological and 
psychological characteristics of animals—especially man—supports 
the supposition that such variations do occur. The spirit of 
adventure, physical courage and the general desire for an active 
life—qualities popularly associated with the male sex—are 
found in women as in men, while female qualities such as 
passivity, timidity, etc., can be recognised in men as well as 
women, although our civilisation strongly favours the sexual 
segregation of such qualities. 
Characteristics of these kinds might well be “ gametic ” and 
result from the particular balance struck between the “ active ” 
and “passive” types of protoplasm contributed by spermatozoid 
and egg-cell. 
This conception may be stated as follows:— 
Certain physiological and psychological qualities which are 
popularly associated with the sex of the individual (zygote) are 
in reality common to both sexes. Their development in any 
individual is not determined by the sex of the individual but 
depends upon the relative “activity” and “passivity” of the 
1 The factor for “form of apothecium’’ of a lichen might not influence 
the morphological form of the isolated algal constituent, yet the algal 
characteristics might re act upon the lichen as a whole. 
