Editing Pangenesis (section)

=== Other variants ===

The historian of science [[E. Janet Browne|Janet Browne]] points out that while <!--Herbert--> Spencer and [[Carl von Nägeli]] also put forth ideas for systems of inheritance involving gemmules, their version of gemmules differed from Darwin's in that it contained "a complete microscopic blueprint for an entire creature."{{sfn |Browne |2002 |p=281}} Spencer published his theory of "physiological units" three years prior to Darwin's publication of ''Variation''.<ref name="Zirkle 1935"/> Browne adds that Darwin believed specifically in gemmules from each body part because they might explain how environmental effects could be passed on as characteristics to offspring.{{sfn |Browne |2002 |p=281}}

Interpretations and applications of pangenesis continued to appear frequently in medical literature up until [[August Weismann|Weismann's]] experiments and subsequent publication on germ-plasm theory in 1892.<ref name="Zirkle 1935"/> For instance, an address by Huxley spurred on substantial work by Dr. James Ross in linking ideas found in Darwin's pangenesis to the [[germ theory of disease]].<ref name=":7">{{Cite book |title=The Graft Theory of Disease: Being an Application of Mr. Darwin's Hypothesis of Pangenesis to the Explanation of the Phenomena of the Zymotic Diseases |last=Ross |first=James |publisher=Lindsay and Blakiston |year=1872 |location=Philadelphia}}</ref> Ross cites the work of both Darwin and Spencer as key to his application of pangenetic theory.<ref name=":7"/>