Germline Theory

The germline or germline theory was proposed by German embryologist Wilhelm Weismann in 1892 and is a biological concept in which any organism originates from one initial unique embryo or zygote, which then passes through a series of developmental stages. This assumption is based on experimental data on the formation of the “germ line”, during which most cells of the cell are identical and repeat each other. Thus, this theory can be applied to explain animal migration or racial differences. In this article we will examine in more detail the main provisions of Weismann's theory, and also consider its influence on modern concepts of genomics.

The theory of germinal origin, the so-called germline (germline) theory. It was formulated by the German biologist W.F. Weissmann in the 19th century. It lies in the fact that all individuals or species come from one single zygote or embryo, which then passes from the larva to the adult organism. Only these units can maintain their identity during embryonic development. From this position, scientists distinguish such phenomena as fruiting and reproductive tissue. By the way, the first one was discovered and studied by I.I. Mechnikov, who proved that the development of vertebrates from a homogeneous zygote to multicellular animals occurred in a very complex and multi-level way. A striking example of such a complex adaptation is earthworms, which develop from an ordinary fertilized egg. Biologists have found that worms mature from haploid, not