Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 February 2016
An old problem of gemellary research lies in the determining cause of gemellogenesis. Two new observations of the family order, in agreement with other similar results, are further evidence in favour of the opinion that in the origin of twins a certain part can be played by some hereditary property of the paternal side.
Gemellary research is the best method to establish the respective importance of heredity and environement in the developement of man. A new problem of gemellary research has arisen owing to the fact that MZ twins can differ in some illness, without the common causal analysis heredity-environement being able to give a satisfactory explanation. For example in the case of cancer it is demonstrated that the “autonomous” genesis of an illness must be taken into account i. e. without an appropriate hereditary cause or without an esogenous cause visible for all. Such an “autonomous” genesis of an illness has become undestandable only on the basis of microphysical knowledge.