Liu Yong-Sheng
Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, China.
Yi Chuan. 2013 May;35(5):680-4. doi: 10.3724/sp.j.1005.2013.00680.
Pangenesis, an early theory of heredity, has been regarded as Darwin's error for a long time. The main reason is that it explains the inheritance of acquired characteristics and graft hybridization, which were largely thought to be wrong. In addition, Galton's blood transfusion experiments obtained negative results, and no evidence was found to support Darwin's hypothetical gemmules-molecular carriers of hereditary characteristics, which are supposed to be thrown off by cells and are able to circulate throughout the body. Now, there are growing evidence for the inheritance of acquired characteristics and graft hybridization. The discovery of circulating nucleic acids indicates that there are indeed inherited molecules which can move between cells of the organism, providing evidence for the chemical existence of Darwin's gemmules. This paper briefly introduces Darwin's Pangenesis, the main reasons that it was ignored, the new evidence in support of it and our own rethinking about it. A new understanding of Pangenesis brings a broader perspective on genetics, evolution, and medicine.
泛生论是一种早期的遗传理论，长期以来一直被视为达尔文的错误。主要原因是它解释了获得性特征的遗传和嫁接杂交，而这在很大程度上被认为是错误的。此外，高尔顿的输血实验得到了阴性结果，没有发现证据支持达尔文假设的胚芽——遗传特征的分子载体，这些载体应该由细胞释放出来并能够在全身循环。现在，越来越多的证据支持获得性特征的遗传和嫁接杂交。循环核酸的发现表明，确实存在可以在生物体细胞间移动的遗传分子，为达尔文胚芽的化学存在提供了证据。本文简要介绍了达尔文的泛生论、它被忽视的主要原因、支持它的新证据以及我们对它的重新思考。对泛生论的新认识为遗传学、进化和医学带来了更广阔的视角。
