New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-10-05
AN ADVANCE IN BIOLOGY.
MENDALLS LAW AND ITS EFFECTS on
CROSS BREEDING OF PLANTS
AND ANIMALS
trv TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1BuNEI


Washington. Oct. 4-Ciovernraent scientists
who have just returned from the international
conference on plant breeding and naturalization
IN New-York are Unquaihedly enthusiastic over
the exploitation Of a new principle in biology
which they describe as a discovery as important
as that Of the atomic theory OF matter or Oar
wins enunciation Of the origin Of species
This principle. known as MendaIFs law. will
II Is maintained. enable the breeder Of plants
and 20 a somewhat less degree Of animals TO
hybrdiz- and cross varieties with the same
certainty with which the chemist compounds
materials or the mathematician works out an
equation Mendaus law briefly stated. is that
a first cross Will result in offspring resembling
one or the other parent. but possessing in an
undeveIoped form. termed by German scientists
'recessivs" the attributes of the other. The
second cross viii result in fixed types possess
ing. respectively. the characteristics Of one
parent. Of both parents, and Of both parents in
varying degrees An example furnished is as
follows
A cross between japanese (coIoreD dancing
mice and uon-dancing aIbino Cwhitej mice will
inevitably produce IN the second generation pro-
totypes OF each Of the original progenitors. and
also dancing aIbinos and non-danctng japanese
mice. each in the approximate proportion OF one
fourth
A botanical experiment conducted by SpilIrnan
consisted Of the crossing Of a bearded wheat
having hairy or velvet" chan. with beardless
wheat having smooth or "glabrous' chaf The
second generation consisted OF four varieties
two resembling the originals one bearded with
glabrous chaff. the other beardless. with velvet
ohah, and each variety was produced in the
proportion OF one-fourth Further experiments
deuonstrate ted that each variety bred true in
subsequent generations
f1lrrhar demonstration Of tbGs ,rip.trIo
found in the fact that where two self-sterile va
rieties are crossed all subsequent generations
are prototypes Of the first cross In the case Of
the apples OF commerce IL has heretofore been
impossible to foreteH what the seed from any
variety would produce but by the liberalization
OF two selfsterile varieties the variety produced
may be perpetuated continuously by the seed
produced The rediscovery of MendalTs law
promises 10 revolutionize the hybridization Of
plants and the breeding OF animals 1t has oblit-
Grated the now obsolete theories OF atavisn and
transformed cross breeding from anarchy TO or
der From the point or view OF pure science il is
a triumph of the first magnitude From the
point Of view of applied science II is Of fncaIcu-
liable value.
The story Of Mendalrs law evolved al the
conference referred 10 is follows. II was first
discovered by German monk. named Mendau.
IN 1865 He expounded his theory in what is
now said 10 be one Of the finest scientific theses
in existence. and printed IT in an obscure pub
LEGATION in a little German village. where il at
tracted practically no attention and was sub
sequenty lost 70 the world Within the last
two years the principle was rediscovered. prac-
tically simultaneously. BY four biological in
ators-Hugo de Vries. Of Holland: Profess
sor Correns, or Germany; W. Bateson, of ST.
Andrews University, Of Scotland, and W j
Splman, OF the United States Department OF
Agriculture. The first announcement in this
country was made in Washington. where Pro
lessor Spillman expounded the then but par
TALLY proved theory before the Association OF
american Agricultural Colleges last November.
Al that time the theory was received with lin
tied credence, but its confirmation In New-York
by three foreign investigators, together with the
statement that Professor Correns's discovery
had served 10 bring TO light MendaHs long for
gotten theses, leaves no room for further doubt