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Cover of The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication, Volume II (of 2)

The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication, Volume II (of 2)

Written by Charles Darwin

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Domestic animalsPlants, CultivatedVariation (Biology)

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About this book

"The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication, Volume II" by Charles Darwin is a scientific publication written in the late 19th century. This seminal work explores the mechanisms of inheritance and variation in domestic animals and plants, detailing how these processes contribute to their evolution and diversity. Darwin investigates complex concepts, including reversion, genetic stability, and the impacts of breeding practices. The opening of the volume delves into the concept of inheritance, emphasizing its significance in understanding variation within domesticated species. Darwin discusses how traits, ranging from physical characteristics to diseases, can be passed down through generations, often in surprising ways. He cites various examples from animal and plant breeding, highlighting instances of inherited traits and anomalies. The opening sets a foundation for a detailed examination of how factors like genetics and environment interact to shape the development and continuity of domesticated forms.

Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication, Volume II (of 2), written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 20 hours
  • advanced
  • analytical
  • empirical
  • detailed

Charles Darwin's "The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication, Volume II" is a monumental scientific treatise from the late 19th century that meticulously examines the mechanisms of inheritance and variation in domesticated species. Building upon the foundational arguments of *On the Origin of Species*, this volume delves deep into empirical evidence, detailing phenomena such as reversion, genetic stability, and the profound effects of artificial selection. Darwin explores how traits, both physical and pathological, are transmitted across generations, providing a wealth of examples from diverse animal and plant breeding practices. This work not only substantiates his evolutionary theories with detailed observations but also proposes the provisional hypothesis of Pangenesis, an early attempt to explain the mechanics of heredity.

“The laws governing inheritance are for the most part unknown.”

Key themes

Inheritance and Heredity
This is the central theme, as Darwin grapples with the fundamental question of how traits are passed from one generation to the next. He explores various modes of inheritance, including blending inheritance, prepotency, the inheritance of acquired characteristics (which he cautiously considered), and the perplexing phenomenon of reversion. The volume culminates in his Pangenesis hypothesis, a grand attempt to unify observations about heredity under a single mechanism.
Variation and its Causes
Darwin meticulously documents the myriad forms of variation observed in domesticated species, exploring both continuous and discontinuous variations. He investigates potential causes, including environmental factors ('conditions of life'), correlation of growth (where changes in one part affect others), and the effects of use and disuse. This theme is critical because variation is the raw material upon which natural selection (and artificial selection) acts.
Artificial Selection and Domestication
This theme explores the power of human intervention in shaping species. Darwin uses the extensive history of animal breeding and plant cultivation to illustrate how deliberate and unconscious selection by humans can lead to profound changes in morphology, physiology, and behavior over generations. He draws parallels between artificial selection and his proposed mechanism of natural selection, using the former as a tangible, observable model for the latter.

Worth discussing

How does Darwin's approach in this volume, with its focus on domesticated species, strengthen or complement the arguments made in *On the Origin of Species*?

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