Excerpt from Heterozygosis in Evolution and in Plant Breeding

When a biologist begins any line of genetic work with either plants or animals he generally has occasion to differentiate his stock into. More or less pure types by in-and-in breeding. Frequently In the case of animals, and nearly always ln the case of plants that are naturally cross-fertilized, he finds there is a loss of vigor, usually unaccompanied by pathological symptoms. This loss of vigor is generally expressed by a decrease In the size of the individual, but it may be shown by a slight decrease in fertility. The phenomenon, although it probably occurs in all great groups reproducing sexually, is not general, however, for in many animals and in plants that are normally self-fertilized it is unnoticeable.

If after obtaining his pure stocks the experimenter has occasion to cross strains that differ in character, he Often finds that the reverse phenomenon occurs. The vigor of the hybrid is greater than that of either parent.

These manifestations have been noticed for over a century by plant breeders and for probably two thousand years or more by animal hybridizers. Until the end of the nineteenth century\ the interpretation of the phenomena, if, indeed, that which is Only a paraphrased statement of the facts can be called an interpreta tion, was that deterioration both morphological and physiological is the direct result Of inbreeding, and therefore occasional crossing of genetically distinct blood lines is a necessary requisite to vigor in every sexually propagated species.

Seven years ago an extended series Of investigations was started at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station having as their primary object an interpretation of these facts in keeping with the more extended knowledge comprised in modern biology. This paper presents a full account Of the views that the writers have come to hold through the data gathered in these experiments, although it has not been thought necessary or advisable to confuse the arguments by overloading it with all of the data in their posses.

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.