Genetics and Algal Life-Histories

Abstract

IN a recent brief review, Barber¹ has directed attention to the need for incorporating results obtained from genetical and cytological studies of the algæ into the general body of genetical science. I am grateful to Prof. Barber for stimulating interest in this field of study, because most genetical work up to the present has been concerned with groups of plants having the Hofmeisterian type of life-history. It is quite unknown to what extent the algae would lend themselves to extensive genetical investigation and whether data obtained from such experiments would conform to the genetical concepts accepted to-day for the higher plants.