29 JANUARY 1921, Page 25

Science Progress (Murray, 6s. net), the valuable quarterly edited by

Sir Ronald Ross, gives in its January number an article on " The Inheritance of Acquired Characters " by Professor E. W. MacBride, who maintains on the evidence of experiments that "a very strong primz facie case for the inheritability of acquired characters has been made out." Lamarck, that is to say, was right, and Weismann wrong. The article is a notable contribution to a controversy of fundamental importance. The journal summarizes each quarter the pro- gress made in each branch of natural science. A correspondent calls attention to " The Starvation Pay of Brain-Workers," and suggests a resort to a strike. He points out that, while the docker is guaranteed at least £250 a year, the University of London has recently advertised for two demonstrators in chemistry—highly qualified graduates who have had a long and expensive training—at salaries of £200 a year. The grievance is obvious, but the remedy suggested is not the right one.