... uber die Bildung des Darmkanals im bebruteten Huhnchen ... mit einer einleitenden Abhandlung und Anmerkungen von Johann Friedrich Meckel
first edition somewhat later bdr's. cloth.
1812 · Halle
by Wolff, C F - EMBRYOLOGY
Halle: Renger, 1812. First Edition.. somewhat later bdr's. cloth.. A very good, crisp copy.. 8vo. There are two eng. fldg. plates.
One of the acknowledged classics of modern genetics and embryology. It is Wolff who provided the first description of the development of an individual organ from its early stages through completion. He was responsible for introducing the idea of epigensis, i.e., that components of an organism are not pre-formed but arise during the course of development. In conjunction with this discovery Wolff developed three basic principles of cell theory. The third, that morphological formations are attributable to modifications of cells, was of especial importance in the history of science and biology. B E Raikhov's work on Wolff and his research provides a great deal of material that shows how important this idea was to Lamarck and Darwin. Wolff was a subtle thinker and realized early in his research that modifications were not necessarily hereditary. But much of Wolff's original and insightful observations were lost to the scientific world at end of the 18th century. Meckel re-discovered Wolff's most important work (offered here) on the development of the alimentary canal in the chick embryo. It was originally published in a periodical in 1768 (!). Meckel translated the text into German and published it with his notes in 1812. The book provided Wolff with the recognition he deserved as a pioneer of modern embryological studies. Pander, Baer and all who came after acknowledged their debt to his discoveries. G - M # 471; Stubbe, Genetics, pp. 86 - 88; see Kolliker's History. (Inventory #: 4486)
One of the acknowledged classics of modern genetics and embryology. It is Wolff who provided the first description of the development of an individual organ from its early stages through completion. He was responsible for introducing the idea of epigensis, i.e., that components of an organism are not pre-formed but arise during the course of development. In conjunction with this discovery Wolff developed three basic principles of cell theory. The third, that morphological formations are attributable to modifications of cells, was of especial importance in the history of science and biology. B E Raikhov's work on Wolff and his research provides a great deal of material that shows how important this idea was to Lamarck and Darwin. Wolff was a subtle thinker and realized early in his research that modifications were not necessarily hereditary. But much of Wolff's original and insightful observations were lost to the scientific world at end of the 18th century. Meckel re-discovered Wolff's most important work (offered here) on the development of the alimentary canal in the chick embryo. It was originally published in a periodical in 1768 (!). Meckel translated the text into German and published it with his notes in 1812. The book provided Wolff with the recognition he deserved as a pioneer of modern embryological studies. Pander, Baer and all who came after acknowledged their debt to his discoveries. G - M # 471; Stubbe, Genetics, pp. 86 - 88; see Kolliker's History. (Inventory #: 4486)