Weismann barrier

The Weismann barrier, proposed by August Weismann, is the strict distinction between the "immortal" germ cell lineages producing gametes and "disposable" somatic cells in animals (but not plants), in contrast to Charles Darwin's proposed pangenesis mechanism for inheritance.^[1][2]

In more precise terminology, hereditary information is copied only from germline cells to somatic cells. This means that new information from somatic mutation is not passed on to the germline. This barrier concept implies that somatic mutations are not inherited.^[3][4]

Weismann set out the concept in his 1892 book ″Das Keimplasma: eine Theorie der Vererbung″ (German for The Germ Plasm: a theory of inheritance).^[5] The use of this theory, commonly in the context of the germ plasm theory of the late 19th century, before the development of better-based and more sophisticated concepts of genetics in the early 20th century, is sometimes referred to as Weismannism.^[6] Some authors distinguish Weismannist development (either preformistic or epigenetic) that in which there is a distinct germline, from somatic embryogenesis.^[7] This type of development is correlated with the evolution of death of the somatic line.

The Weismann barrier was of great importance in its day and among other influences it effectively banished certain Lamarckian concepts: in particular, it would make Lamarckian inheritance from changes to the body (the soma) difficult or impossible.^[8] It remains important, but has however required qualification in the light of modern understanding of horizontal gene transfer and some other genetic and histological developments.^[9]