Hormones and Heredity A Discussion of the Evolution of Adaptations and the Evolution of Species

"Hormones and Heredity" by J. T. Cunningham is a scientific exploration into the world of hormones and their connection to the development of adaptations and the evolution of various species, written in the context of early 20th-century scientific understanding. The book seeks to address confusion and lay down important groundwork concerning the role of hormones in adaptation and the grander evolution of species. The author prefaces the work by stating the need for a deeper look into hormonal effects and their relation to heredity, within the framework of Mendelian genetics. The work aims to clarify the importance of this topic, providing both a look back at older ideas and a look at new viewpoints. Beginning with a historical overview of ideas about chemical effects on heredity, it prepares the reader for a detailed look into adaptation, classification, and the ways hormones operate in the chapters that follow.