Notes on Heredity

Radiation effects on human heredity.

In experimental organisms such as fruit flies and mice, increased frequencies in germ cell mutations have been detected following exposure to ionizing radiation. In contrast, there has been no clear evidence for radiation-induced germ cell mutations in humans that lead to birth defects, chromosome aberrations, Mendelian disorders, etc. This situation exists partly because no sensitive and pract...

On the heredity of retinitis pigmentosa.

The aims of this study are: (1) to determine the frequencies of the various genetic forms of retinitis pigmentosa; and (2) to perform segregation analysis on autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, and X-linked families. The families studied consisted of 2 series of patients at Moorfields Eye Hospital: (1) 426 families seen in the Genetic Clinic; and (2) 289 families seen in the Electrodiagnos...

Hologynic Heredity.

Sex-linked characters in man are well known; they are all pathological characters, so far as known; they are transmitted according to the same laws as the sex-linked characters in the little fruit-fly (Drosophila) and explained in the same manner by means of the sex chromosome. I propose the name “diagynic heredity” for this kind of heredity, as the sex-linked character is transmitted from male...

Heredity in Ovarian Cystoma

Rethinking heredity, again.

The refutation of 'soft' inheritance and establishment of Mendelian genetics as the exclusive model of heredity is widely portrayed as an iconic success story of scientific progress. Yet, we are witnessing a re-emergence of debate on the role of soft inheritance in heredity and evolution. I argue that this reversal reflects not only the weight of new evidence but also an important conceptual ch...