Question

There would be no evolution if

• A. the inheritance of acquired characters did not take place
• B. somatic variation were not inheritable
• C. variations are not found in germ cells among the members of population
• D. germinal variations would not transform into somatic variation

Answer 1

The correct option is C variations are not found in germ cells among the members of population

Wiesmann in his theory of continuity of germplasm explains that there are two types of protoplasm present in the organism, somatoplasm and germplasm. According to him, if a variation develops in the germplasm (protoplasm of germ cells), it is inherited to the next generation while if variations develop in somatoplasm (protoplasm of somatic cells), they are not transmitted to offspring. Somatic cells are not involved in reproduction so these changes can be observed in the parent who develops it but cannot be transmitted to offspring. So, option c is the correct answer because if there are no variations in germ cells then there would be no evolution or no speciation.