Difference between Theory of Pangenesis and Germplasm Theory

The theory of pangenesis had a profound influence till the introduction of germplasm theory. Here is the table that summarizes the differences.

Pangenesis: Darwin hypothesized that every organ from the leaves of a plant to the muscles of an animal contributed specific hereditary material to the offspring through tiny particles called gemmules.

Germplasm Theory: Weismann proved that the hereditary material (the germplasm) is locked in a reproductive organ, completely unaffected by whatever the body or somatic cells learns, loses, or acquires during their lifetime. If you cut the tail off a mouse, its offspring will still be born with tails, because the tail tissue has no communication pathway to the sperm or egg.

Theory of Pangenesis vs Germplasm Theory

Pangenesis theory	Germplasm theory
Proposed by Charles Darwin (1868)	August Weismann (1892)
Concept: Every cell in the body sheds tiny particles called gemmules that collect in the reproductive organs and influence the characters.	Heredity is completely controlled by distinct reproductive cells: germ cells (sperm/egg). Body cells, or somatic cells, have no influence on heredity.
Flow of Inheritance: Two-way: Body cells, or somatic cells, directly dictate and alter the genetic makeup of the sex cells.	One-way: Inheritance is controlled by germ cells. The "Weismann barrier" prevents body cells from passing information back to the sex cells.
Present Scientific Status: Fully disproven by Weismann’s mouse tail experiment	The accepted foundation of modern genetics.