ID# 1791:
"The Present Position of the Mendelians and Biometricians," The Mendel Journal, focusing on the "battle" over intermediate forms
Date:
1909
Pages: (1|2|3|4|5)
Source:
Cold Spring Harbor, ERO, Mendel Journal #1

&quote;The Present Position of the Mendelians and Biometricians,&quote; The Mendel Journal, focusing on the &quote;battle&quote; over intermediate forms

160 The Mendel Journal further infer, therefore, that the discipline of the army is very severe, and perhaps this may throw some light upon the constant reappearance of the figure 0.5 in relation to the size of some of its artillery equipment. We believe further, from certain information which the dispatches of the "Field-marshal" reveal,* that the army also has its ambulance corps, consisting of "higher consultants" and "general practitioners." We have not the slightest doubt that such a militant organisation has urgent need for an ambulance branch, and that its duties must be incessant. And, when we review the many battles with the gods in which it has been engaged, and we recall their disastrous results, we find an explanation of the anomaly, that whereas other armies are content with "general practitioners," the biometrical one finds it necessary to retain "higher consultants." In some respects it is a very fine army, and it is certainly an imposing one upon parade. It is led, officered, and manned by men of transcendent intellect, of whom any country may be proud. It is an army which in some domains may have achieved some eminent victories for truth; but in other domains we are afraid our judgment compels us to say it has but obscured the topography and geography of the country of its invasion by the smoke of battle, produced by the burning of its "correlation" gunpowder, and that it has failed to capture the Temple of Truth by the errors of its strategy and the ineffectiveness of some of its weapons of attack. Opposed to the Biometrical army is the Mendelian. More recent in origin, less martial in organisation, but very vigorous, the Mendelian army has already turned the flanks and pierced the centre of the older one opposed to it. For signs of surrender on one wing, and or retreat, very skilfully covered, on the other, are visible in the biometrical ranks. The broken centre, encouraged by the boldness and coolness of its eminent Field-marshal - who like all kings of old personally fights on the battle-field, -- is making a rally on the high grounds to the rear. These hills are marked on the Mendelian [hairline rule] [footnote]*"Biometrika," Vol. VI., p. 348. [end]

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