(1) Vererbungslehre Mit besonderer Berücksichtigung des Menschen, für Studierende, Aerzte und Zuchter (2) Genetics: An Introduction to the Study of Heredity (3) The Fitness of the Environment: An Inquiry into the Biological Significance of the Properties of Matter (4) Moderne Probleme der Biologie (5) Vorträge über Deszendenztheorie

Abstract

(1) PROF PLATE'S excellent book gives a clear and comprehensive account of the present state of the study of heredity. The author is already known as an experimental investigator on the genetics of coat colour in mice, and as a student of heredity in man. Moreover, as the volume shows, he has a wide knowledge of the literature. The chief feature of the book, in which it differs most from works of a kindred nature, is the amount of space allotted to human heredity. Nearly one-fifth of the book is devoted to this subject, and most cases of which anything is known in man come in for review. It is certainly the best general account of this side yet written, and for this reason, if for no other, should be of special value to students of eugenics and to medical men. We notice that the author still adheres to the ingenious theory which he put forward some two years ago to account for the peculiar phenomena of inheritance in cases such as colour-blindness and haemophilia, where the unaffected females transmit the affection to their sons. The theory is largely based upon the unusual proportions of the sexes in certain matings among such families. Lenz, however, has recently suggested that these proportions are due to the way in which the material is necessarily selected, and that Plate's explanation is probably incorrect. The volume is attractively and clearly written, and is well illustrated with more than 170 figures and three coloured plates.

(1) Vererbungslehre. Mit besonderer Berücksichtigung des Menschen, für Studierende, Aerzte und Zuchter.

By Dr. Ludwig Plate. Pp. xii + 519 + 3 plates. (Leipzig: W. Engelmann, 1913.) Price 18 marks.

(2) Genetics: An Introduction to the Study of Heredity.

By Prof. H. E. Walter. Pp. xiv + 272. (New York: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan and Co., Ltd., 1913.) Price 6s. 6d. net.

(3) The Fitness of the Environment: An Inquiry into the Biological Significance of the Properties of Matter.

By Prof. L. J. Henderson. Pp. xv + 317. (New York: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan and Co., Ltd., 1913.) Price 6s. 6d. net.

(4) Moderne Probleme der Biologie.

Prof. C. S. Minot. Pp. vii + 111. (Jena: Gustav Fischer, 1913.) Price 3 marks.

(5) Vorträge über Deszendenztheorie.

By August Weismann. Dritte umgearbeitete Auflage. Erster Band and Zweiter Band. Pp. xiv + 342 + vii + 354 + 3 plates. (Jena: Gustav Fischer, 1913.) Price 13 marks.