414
REVIEW
reported in the meeting on statistical considerations. Yates of England dis-
cussed the statistical aspects of animal experimentation and emphasised the
design of a genetic experiment. With reference to factorial design in such
studies he suggested the possible use of discriminant function for dealing with
various kinds of multiple measurements. Berge of Norway discussed size of
sample and Lush of the United States considered methods of measuring the
heredity of individual differences.
Two papers dealt with the inheritance of lethal characters in horses and
cattle. Addington and Cunningham of the United States considered an
inherited di-mamilla in milk goats. From Germany, Abderhalden and Herre
discussed the application of the protective proteinase reaction to problems of
heredity. The authors say that the structure of the proteins is the end pro-
duct of genetic phenomena, is affected by genes and is associated with body
characters. This paper is somewhat bold and theoretical, but may ultimately
throw light on the gap between the physical and biological sciences. The
striking relationship between phenotypic characters and type of reaction in
sheep mouflon hybrids and in pigs confirmed this genetic phenomenon.
Of the three meetings on selection and performance, the first dealt with
milk yield. Kruger of Germany considered the determination of performance
value, genetic value, genes and genetic quanta. He suggested that perform-
ance of dairy cows was an unsuitable basis for selection since it is an expression
of the interreaction of inheritance and environment; he would prefer perform-
ance in a standard environment, which he calls ' performance value'. Environ-
ment can be standardised internationally. As genetic value is determined by
parent-progeny comparisons, heredity grid is suitable for such analysis. To
recognise individual genetic factors controlling milk yield and to trace their
inheritance is not possible ; mode of inheritance of such quantitative charac-
ters necessarily presupposes gene complexes which the author proposes to
call ' genetic quanta '. He adds that investigations of the genetic basis and
mode of inheritance must take into account the polymeric basis of milk yield.
Lortscher of Switzerland, in an attempt to find causes of annual average
variations, analysed the performance records, covering 24 years, of a herd of
British-Friesian cattle. He attempted to assess variance due to non-heritable
environmental influences and to make full use of genetic variance in selection.
In this connection it might be emphasised that such a study of some of
our herds in India, notably the Sahiwal herds at New Delhi and Ferozepur,
would be of immense value in measuring the genetic improvement thus far
obtained and the methods responsible for such progress.
Csukas of Hungary discussed the genetics of the lactation curve and
expressed the opinion that, standardised on certain principles, it was here-
ditary and that homomeric genes are involved.
Ward and Campbell reported on the sire survey work done in New Zealand.
The report was based on the records of cows submitted to the Herd Recording
Council in that country.
Sex linkage in milk yield inheritance in cattle was considered by
Marchlewski of Poland. The fact that the discussion on this paper revealed
confusion of thought on this problem indicates that definite experimentation
could throw more light on its solution than any purely analytical procedure,