POPULAR SCIENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3672, 29 July 1924, Page 5

POPULAR SCIENCE.

AN INTERESTING LECTURE. A lecture under the auspices of the Workers’ Educational Association, entitled ’"The Effect of Environment on the Organism,’’ was given in the upper Oliver Room, University on the 21st by Dt W. B. Benham, F.R.S., professor of biology at the Otago University. In his opening remarks Dr Benham said he would deal with the degree In which character was affected by environment. Our characteristics, he said, were derived from two sources—those which we received from our ancestors and other which we acquired. 'Che greater part was hereditary, such as physical strength and ability in art, but most mental characteristics were derived from environment. He took as an instance a lad In a family where the general talk was of an intellectual nature. That lad, he stated, would grow Up to be an intellectual man, while on the other hand, if a boy'e parents talked of the neighbours, sports etc., he would follow in their footsteps. When these lads went out into life the former would always have something in hia own mind to amuse himself with, while the latter must look for his enjoyment. Whether virtues were transmitted from one generation to another depended on whether those qualities were inborn or acquired The question whether criminals were created through environment or heredity was a very important one. A prominent biologist had found that the children of slender parents would he slender, and the same applied to animals, which was an important factor in commerce. The lecturer then proceeded to explain experiments which had been made on animals, giving as an example white mice being trained to come for food when a bell rang. In the first instance it took 300 lessons, hut the next; generation took only 100 lessons, and the next five. The experiment, however, had been carried no further, but he supposed that the next generation would some after one lesson and the next without the ringing of a hell at all. — (Laughter.) The lecturer then pointed out some of the differences between the theories of Lamark and Darwin. Expriments in the laboratory wera not, a success, as they could not be carried on for a. very long period. In conclusion, Dr Benham said that environment had an important effect on a person for better or for worse. After answering several questions. Dr Benham was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.