WEISMANN’S GERM PLASM THEORY

August Weismann (1834–1914) was the German neo-Darwinian biologist who proposed
the germ plasm theory which was published in the book Das Keimplasma. He was a
famous critics of Lamarkism and a neo Darwinian biologist. He asserted the continuity of
germ plasm as the main criterion for inheritance of characters. All the heritable variations
have their origin in germ cells and a new type of organisms arise only from changed type of
germ cells. Thus, Weismann’s germplasm theory rejected outrightly the Lamarckian
concept of inheritance of acquired characters and Darwin’s pangenesis hypothesis.

The main points of germ plasm theory are the following:

1. Existence of somatoplasm and germ plasm.

The body of an organism is made up of two types of cells namely the somatic cells
(Somatoplasm or soma)and germ cells (germplasm). The somatic cells constitute
the body cells except germ cells of gonads. Germ cells constitutes the reproductive
cells such as ova and sperms. The germ plasm is thought to be the actual vehicle of
heredity ; it is not affected by any influence either from the body or the external
environment. The somatoplasm is thought not to play any role in heredity.
2. Continuity of germ plasm.
In sexual reproduction, the germplasm of each parent, the paternal sperm and
maternal ovum, combine to form the fertilized egg. None of the somatic cells,
however, has any share in subsequent generations but only the germ cells which are
derived directly from the original egg. So there is a continuity of germplam through
generation, but not of somatoplasm. [Hence, only those mutations which are germinal
in their origin can possibly be handed down, and as the hereditary stream of germ
plasm is already set apart (at time of cleavage) before the adult body comes in use.]
Therfore, any modification developed upon the body through use or disuse cannot
possibly become a part of the organism’s heritage.
3. Immortality of the germplasm
Thus, germ plasm is immortal since it is perpetuated from generation to generation
through the meiotic cell division. Each germ cell is the product of the division of
previous germ cells. Soma (somatoplasm) is mortal, it perishes with the death of an
organism. Germ plasm can produce the somatoplasm but somatoplasm cannot
produce the germ plasm.
4. Architecture of germ plasm (Concept of determinants)
According to Weismann, germplasm comprises minute and complex structures
called determinants [idioplasm]. The determinants carry minute physiological units
known as determiners [biophores]. The determinants and determiners are
comparable to modern concept of chromosome and genes.
5. Parallel Induction
In apposition of Lamarck’s inheritance of acquired characters, Weismann
introduced the idea of parallel induction. According to this concept, the stimulus
affects simultaneously the germplasm and the soma (body). He proposed the
occurrence of an internal stimulus which affects germ cells and results in heritable
variations. The stimulus, according to him, is the nourishment which is necessary
 for determinants and biophores. Those determinants or particles which obtain
better nourishment are fast-growing and stronger than those getting less
nourishment. Correspondingly, these particles tend to produce either strong or
weaker part or organ in organisms. Thus, Weismann assumed a struggle for
existence between better nourished and less nourished determinants, and there lies
the causes of appearance and disappearance of variations

Objections to Weismann’s Germplasm Theory:

Germplasm theory is criticised mainly for its speculativeness (i.e., it lacks any experimental
support) and also for its idea of determinants and their segregation during cleavage and for
its failure for explaining causes of asexual reproduction and regeneration.

Significance of Weismann’s Germplasm Theory:

1. The idea of continuity and immortality of germplasm prepared the ground for
the continuity of chromosome or DNA from one generation to the next.
2. It made ground for the understanding of the concept of particulate inheritance
of Mendel
3. It provides some clue about genes (determinants) which reside in chromosomes
and represent some part of animal body.
4. The greatest contribution of this theory, according to the embryologists is that it
proposes the division of germplasm and somatoplasm during cleavage of the
zygote during the embryogenesis.