A Mechanico-Physiological Theory of Organic Evolution

"A Mechanico-Physiological Theory of Organic Evolution" by Carl Nägeli is a scientific publication written in the late 19th century. The book explores fundamental principles of biological evolution from a mechanistic and physiological standpoint, emphasizing the role of internal and external factors in the development and complexity of organisms. Nägeli presents his micellar theory, which posits that living organisms are composed of micelles that evolve through processes of spontaneous generation and adaptation. In the book, Nägeli outlines his views on evolution, focusing on the structure and function of living matter. He discusses the formation of organized bodies from unorganized matter, the role of molecular forces, and the significance of idioplasm as the carrier of hereditary traits. The text critiques Darwinian natural selection and emphasizes an intrinsic guiding force within organisms, leading to increasingly complex structures through an automatic perfecting process. Nägeli's approach integrates insights from biology, chemistry, and physics, presenting a comprehensive view of organic evolution that garnered attention but remains less recognized than his contemporaries. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Carl Wilhelm von Nägeli was a Swiss botanist. He studied cell division and pollination but became known as the man who discouraged Gregor Mendel from further work on genetics. He rejected natural selection as a mechanism of evolution, favouring orthogenesis driven by a supposed "inner perfecting principle".