Heredity

(he-red' -it-e). The principle or fact of the transmi ion of physical or mental qualities or tendencies from ancestor to offspring. Darwin's Theory of Heredity, or the Hypothesis of Pangenesis, supposes that each of the different cells of the body gives off gemmules (Plastidules of Elsberg), ox germinal particles, that are capable of reproducing their kind, and which are included in and constitute the generative cells, and thus reproduce all of the peculiarities of the original organism. Wei mann's Theory of the Continuity or " Immortality ' ' of Germ-plasma, is developed from Nu baum's proposition that germ-substance is directly abstracted from the developing ovum and preserved, without e ential alteration, to become, by giving rise to sexual elements, Hermaphrodite (her-maf -ro-dit) Venus. An individual affected with herphrodism, q. v.; usually the condition is due to e congenital malformation of the genital organs,:h as epispadias, hypospadias, cleft of the scrotum, c., that makes the determination of sex somewhat doubtful. For varieties, see Hermaphrodism.