Forming and deforming scientific concepts: The inheritance of acquired characters’ case
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2178-6224v18i2p243-260Keywords:
Inheritance of acquired characters, August Weismann, History of scientific terms, EpigeneticAbstract
This work shows how a change in the meaning of the term “acquired character” led to rejecting the hypothesis of the inheritance of these characters. It considers the example of the experiment by August Weismann (1834-1914), which was taken as a paradigmatic case in textbooks and in the specialized bibliography to refute this hypothesis. Thus, the premise that only germ cells’ changes could be inherited established what became known as the “Weismann barrier”. This case aims to consider how the teaching and reproduction of scientific terms and their indicators can limit the development of theories. So, reflecting on how we mention and thought scientific theories to avoid barriers in developing disciplinary fields is worthwhile.
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