Embryology and genetics / by Thomas Hunt Morgan.

  • Morgan, Thomas Hunt, 1866-1945.
Date:
1934
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Embryology and genetics / by Thomas Hunt Morgan. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    analyses which chemists and physicists have invented for the study of their kinds of materials, but that we should not neglect any pos- sible means of penetrating further by experimental methods, on the biological level, into the behavior of such systems. It is unsafe to say that the physico-chemical problems are differ- ent from the biological problem until we know more about the latter. For it must be obvious to every student of embryology that we have only begun to get information as to the “organization” of the egg on the biological level, and know as yet very little about the chemistry and physics of development. Should it turn out that neither the classical mechanics, nor the new physics suffice, the ground will at least be prepared for the discovery of some new kinds of principles that apply to living things. But until it has been shown that what we call the property or properties of living things are entirely out of line with what is known as non-living systems, it may be shortsighted to resort to obviously metaphysical principles, or even to temporize with them. It is this alternative that separates those whom the philosophers insist on calling mechanists, and those whom the biologists call metaphysicians. There is no need to at- tempt a compromise by saying that each has his own realm, because the scientist regards mysticism as an outmoded way of attempting to offer a finalistic solution of the problems he studies. Most modern biologists are not, however, so much impressed by the idea that there is a principle of life as they are by the great variety of phenomena shown by living things. It seems to them pre- mature as well as pretentious to discuss some imaginary ideal prop- erty of life when there is abundant evidence pointing to the conclu- sion that there are many properties of living things of many different kinds, each crying out for solution ^efore attempting to synthesize them into life. Of course one may pick out one or more of these, such as consciousness, or purpose, or free will, and make it the sine qua non of living things, but it should not pass unnoticed that the selec- tion is usually one of the most obscure phenomena of living things.