A Mechanico-Physiological Theory of Organic Evolution

In this thought-provoking book, readers are introduced to the controversial ideas of Swiss botanist Carl Nägeli. Nägeli's work on cell division and pollination led him to reject natural selection as the driving force of evolution and instead propose an "inner perfecting principle" known as orthogenesis. He also introduced the concept of the 'idioplasm,' which he believed was the hypothetical transmitter of inherited characters. Despite Nägeli's influence on the field of genetics, his ideas were ultimately rejected by the scientific community. This book provides a fascinating look into the mind of a scientist whose theories challenged the prevailing views of his time.