know many cases where such a result is approached, and very many where all the essential features which we regard as constituting the characters of the breed are reproduced with approximate certainty in every member of the pure-bred race, which thus closely approach to uniformity.
But if two germ-cells of dissimilar constitution unite in fertilisation, what offspring are we to expect[1]? First let us premise that the answer to this question is known experimentally to differ for many organisms and for many classes of characters, and may almost certainly be in part determined by external circumstances. But omitting the last qualification, certain principles are now clearly detected, though what principle will apply in any given case can only be determined by direct experiment made with that case.
This is the phenomenon of cross-breeding. As generally used, this term means the union of members of dissimilar varieties, or species: though when dissimilar gametes[2] produced by two individuals of the same variety unite in fertilisation, we have essentially cross-breeding in respect of the character or characters in which those gametes differ. We will suppose, as before, that these two gametes bearing properties unlike in respect of a given character, are borne by different individuals.
In the simplest case, suppose a gamete from an individual presenting any character in intensity A unite in fertilisation with another from an individual presenting the same character in intensity a. For brevity's sake we
- ↑ In all the cases discussed it is assumed that the gametes are similar except in regard to the "heritage" they bear, and that no original variation is taking place. The case of mosaics is also left wholly out of account (see later).
- ↑ The term "gamete" is now generally used as the equivalent of "germ-cell," whether male or female, and the term "zygote" is here used for brevity to denote the organism resulting from fertilisation.
