File:The American Museum journal (c1900-(1918)) (18134241566).jpg

Title: The American Museum journal
Identifier: americanmuseumjo16amer (find matches)
Year: c1900-(1918) (c190s)
Authors: American Museum of Natural History
Subjects: Natural history
Publisher: New York : American Museum of Natural History
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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Heredity and Sex MENDELISM AND SOME OF ITS RECENT DEVELOPMENTS Bv FRANK E. LUTZ. THE history of science is as full of episodes replete with " human interest" as is the history of nations. Not the least of these is the story of Gregor Mendel, a peasant, later a monk, and finally Abbot at Briinn, but now known not for his theology or his kindly deeds to his fellows, but for his patient and successfid work in his avocation — the study of heredity. The principal material which he used in this study was the common pea, and his results were published in an obscure journal in 1865. Darwin knew of his work but failed to appreciate its signi- ficance. In fact, it remained unnoticed \mtil eighteen years after Mendel had died when, independently but simul- taneously, it was brought to our at- tention, together with important confirmations, by three noted bota- nists: De Vries, ("orrens, and Tsch- ermak. Its redis- covery has not only given us a theory of heredity which has revolu- tionized the practi- cal breeding of plants and lower animals, but also it has given a new impetus to the ex- perimental study of evolution and, through the " eu- <-regor Mendd. Al.lx.l of ,, in plant hybridization (1853 geniCS movement, tion of important principles
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l)ids fair to play an important part in the development of human society. It is fitting, therefore, that the American Museum should arrange exhibits illus- trating the principles of Mendelism. In the Darwin hall of the American IVIuseum, featiuTS of the Mendelian law of heredity are shown by means of peas and rats, while in the insect hall not only Mendelism, but also the later developments of Mendelism — its relation to the mechanism of the germ cell and to sex — are illustrated. As an illustration of Mendelism in its simplest form we may take the following: The commoner of the two beetles — both undesirable immigrants from Eu- rope — which feed upon our asparagus is Crioccris aspar- agi. It is a small gi-een creature with cream-colored markings. In some individuals these markings consist of three small spots on each wing cov- er; in others these spots are larger, and the two front ones on each side are joined. Now, if an asparagus beetle having the spots small and separate mates with one having the spots large and joined, the off- spring (the " hy- brids" or, as this 229 Uriinn. whose experiments -1884) led to the formula- of heredity

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