The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication [Paperback]

A key text in the development of Darwin's thought and an early defence of natural selection against theories of design.The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication (1868), Volume 2, is concerned with how species inherit particular characteristics. Here Darwin unpacked his provisional hypothesis of pangenesis and defended his theories of natural selection against those of evolution by design: the first arguments in a long debate still hot today.The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication (1868), Volume 2, is concerned with how species inherit particular characteristics. Here Darwin unpacked his provisional hypothesis of pangenesis and defended his theories of natural selection against those of evolution by design: the first arguments in a long debate still hot today.Charles Darwin (18091882) first published this work in 1868 in two volumes. The book began as an expansion of the first two chapters of On the Origin of Species: 'Variation under Domestication' and 'Variation under Nature' and it developed into one of his largest works; Darwin referred to it as his 'big book'. In volume 2, concerned with how species inherit particular characteristics, Darwin first published his 'provisional hypothesis' of pangenesis. This theory of 'gemmules' was not met with much acceptance and today is not valuable as scientific explanation, but it was important in laying down the key questions that needed to be answered regarding the processes of genetic inheritance. Darwin also used volume 2 to challenge the theories of evolution by design, expounded by the botanist Asa Gray. Darwin's arguments were some of the very first in a long debate that remains hot today.12. Inheritance; 13. Inheritance continued: reversion or atavism; 14. Inheritance continued: fixedness of character, prepotency, sexual limitation; correspondence of age; 15. On crossing; 16. Causes which interfere with the free crossing of varieties, influence of domestication on fertility; 17. On tl#s