Page:Mendel's principles of heredity; a defence.pdf/73

Rh {| style="margin: auto; text-align: center;"
 * colspan=3 | Experiment 1.
 * colspan=2 | Experiment 2.
 * colspan=3 | Form of Seed.
 * colspan=2 | Colour of Albumen.
 * style="width: 17%; white-space: nowrap;" | Plants.
 * style="width: 17%; white-space: nowrap;" | Round.
 * style="width: 17%; white-space: nowrap;" | Angular.
 * style="width: 15%; white-space: nowrap;" |
 * style="width: 17%; white-space: nowrap;" | Yellow.
 * style="width: 17%; white-space: nowrap;" | Green.
 * 1 || 45 || 12
 * 25 || 11
 * 2 || 27 || 8
 * 32 || 7
 * 3 || 24 || 7
 * 14 || 5
 * 4 || 19 || 10
 * 70 || 27
 * 5 || 32 || 11
 * 24 || 13
 * 6 || 26 || 6
 * 20 || 6
 * 7 || 88 || 24
 * 32 || 13
 * 8 || 22 || 10
 * 44 || 9
 * 9 || 28 || 6
 * 50 || 14
 * 10 || 25 || 7
 * 44 || 18
 * }
 * 5 || 32 || 11
 * 24 || 13
 * 6 || 26 || 6
 * 20 || 6
 * 7 || 88 || 24
 * 32 || 13
 * 8 || 22 || 10
 * 44 || 9
 * 9 || 28 || 6
 * 50 || 14
 * 10 || 25 || 7
 * 44 || 18
 * }
 * 8 || 22 || 10
 * 44 || 9
 * 9 || 28 || 6
 * 50 || 14
 * 10 || 25 || 7
 * 44 || 18
 * }
 * 10 || 25 || 7
 * 44 || 18
 * }
 * 44 || 18
 * }

As extremes in the distribution of the two seed characters in one plant, there were observed in Expt. 1 an instance of 43 round and only 2 angular, and another of 14 round and 15 angular seeds. In Expt. 2 there was a case of 32 yellow and only 1 green seed, but also one of 20 yellow and 19 green.

These two experiments are important for the determination of the average ratios, because with a smaller number of experimental plants they show that very considerable fluctuations may occur. In counting the seeds, also, especially in Expt. 2, some care is requisite, since in some of the seeds of many plants the green colour of the albumen is less developed, and at first may be easily overlooked. The cause of the partial disappearance of the green colouring has no connection with the hybrid-character of the plants, as it likewise occurs in the parental variety. This peculiarity is also confined to the individual and is not inherited by the offspring. In luxuriant plants this appearance was frequently noted. Seeds which are damaged by insects during their development often vary in colour and form, but, with a little practice in sorting, errors are