Before revision: The Weismann barrier, proposed by August Weismann, is the strict distinction between the "immortal" germ cell lineages producing gametes and "disposable" somatic cells , in contrast to Charles Darwin's proposed pangenesis mechanism for inheritance.
After revision: in animals (but not plants)The Weismann barrier, proposed by August Weismann, is the strict distinction between the "immortal" germ cell lineages producing gametes and "disposable" somatic cells , in contrast to Charles Darwin's proposed pangenesis mechanism for inheritance.