The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-09-09
Professor Charles Refers to I'm
pr0yement of Man.
ON HUMAN CHARACTER
Discusses Germ Plasm as q
Heritable Determinant.
Shows How an Impure Union
Affects the Offspring.

industrial school, Topeka. read the
closing paper before the semi-annual
conference of the state board Of con-
troll.
Professor Charles in part said:
Much has been said in recent years
about restricting the marriage Of the
unfit, and the impression prevails that
much good to the race will result if
we can in some way get the right sort
of people born into this world. We
know what has been done in the i'm
provement of the breeds of domestic
animals and in the cultivated plants
and the question comes to us-why not
do as much for the human race? This
theme has given rise to the compare
lively new science eugenics. Discus
sions in recent years have done much
toward calling the attention of think
ing men and women to the Importance
of race improvement and there have
been established certain scientific
principles as a basis of intelligent
study.
1.-THE science of eugenics is a bio
logical science and carried to its final
analysis leads us into the mysteries of
protoplasm where human knowledge
cannot fathom. Certain the
cries, however, beyond the reach of ex-
Fermentation have been reasonably
well established. Among these is the
theory that each of these Independent
unit characters is represented in the
fertilized germ by a molecule or group
Of molecules called a determinant.
Each determinant develops into an
Independent unit character, and every
heritable unit character is represented
in the germ plasm as determinant
If the determinant which represents
rdod xx-ha iS in the
tilted germ the developed ear of wheat
will be bearded. If the determinant
which represents beardless wheat is
present in the fortified germ then the
developed ear of wheat will be beard
less. This is true of other instances in
animal and plant life.
THE determinants in every fertil-
lied germ are so segregated that one,
but never both determinants of each
Independent unit character, is present.
This principle is called the segrega-
ton of determinants and states that
unit-characters do not blend. If one
parent possesses a unit character rep
resented by q determinant and the
other parent does not possess this
character then the Offspring will get
a determinant from this unit charac-
ter from one parent, instead of from
both. From this there is easily de-
rived one of the most important gen.
ordinations that recent studies of
neToQ1Iy nave oStdDl1SneQs II the de-
terminant of any heritable unit char
acter is absent from the germ plasm
of both parents, it will be absent in
their offspring This principle. has
been SO well established that it has be-
come universally accepted
Why Eyes Are Blue.
Regarding the transmission of unit
characters in the human family, Pro-
fessor Charles said:
pnn6 &c I,ok 4f
color. Blue eyes are due to the alb
sence of brown pigment. There is
determinant for eye pigment. If this
determinant is absent in both parents
all the children of such parents will
be blue eyed. Likewise there is a de-
terminant for hair pigment. If both
parents have light hair all their chill
dren will have light hair because there
is no hair pigment determinant in the
germ plaSm.
"Abnormalities are inherited in the
same way. A typical example is that
of trachydactyly. or short fingered
ness, in which each finger consists of
but two Joints instead of three. This
result seems to be due to the presence
of some determinant that inhibits the
normal process of development. This
condition behaves as a simple domi-
nant to the normal state If two
Neutrality-suspicious. individuals should
marry it would be an example of the
union of impure dominants and the
chances are three to one that the off,
spring would be affected The recess
sive normal, however, will breed true
to the normal state and the offspring
of such will be normal regardless of
the presence of the defect in the fam
lily history. The hereditary transmits
sion of disease has engaged the atten-
ton of physicians for many years 1t
probably is true that SPECIFIC diseases
are not inherited. but some inherent
weakness or liability to disease or lack
of power to resist is transmitted
TT seems to me that there has been
confirmation of the most radical
position that has been taken on the
necessity for the restriction of mar
riage, the segregation Of the unfit and
for rational matings of those conten-
plating marriage. 1 will emphasize the
factor that seems to me to be es-
sential in bringing this about. That Is
publicity a spread of the knowledge
of the truth regarding race deteriora-
ton and the only means of checking 1t,
that of preserving to the race the
heritable good and depressing the herit-
able bad.
"This new conception of the individ-
ua1 as made up of an aggregation of
unit characters, and that these unit
characters behave IN definite pre-
determined manner in the process of
transmission provide us a specific
working basis and no greater problem
can engage the minds of men than the
working out of these principles of race
improvement.
Inquiry into these questions is re1a-
ivy new, discussions are rare, as a
consequence of which there is a lack
of knowledge. There is a good day
coming when our social conscience
shall be stricken with the enormity of
the crime of unchecked marriages
which under the pirate banner of per-
sonal liberty fill our public institutions
with a growing population of depend
ents, detectives and criminals"
COuden Is Discharged.
Washington, Sept. 9.-Frank M. Cou-
den. cashier in the office of the sur