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Jaina Biology
development of genetics is implied in the Jaina view when the details of cell division and fertilization are known from the evidences furnished by Jaina Biology.39 It should be noted in this connection that the growth of each plant or animal is due to cell divisions plus increases in the size of the cells which comprise the organism. “This division of cells is an extremely regular process called mitosis 40" in modern Biology.
1 he Determination of Sex
Jaina Biology explains that the relative predominance of the sperm (Sukka ?) and germ cells (Ojam ?) in the fertilized ovum (gabbhagaya jiva ) is a factor which influences the sexual character of the resulting offspring. Excess of the sperm-cell produces the male, that of the germ-cell - the female. If the sperm - cell and germ-cell are equal, a neuter is born.
The Jaina view on the determination of the sex is further stated that it depends in part on a periodicity to which the life - history of the ovum in the female parent is conceived to be subject-a law under which the fertilization of the ovum on the fourth day after the menstrual discharge, or on the alternate (even ) days succeeding is favourable to the foetus developing the male sexual character, and on the fifth, seventh and alternate following days to the foetus assuming the female sex.42
It seems from the study of garbha posa na (nourishment of embryo) by the mother that there is an influence of nutrition on the ovum especially as regards the stature of the resulting offspring.43
The Jaina view on the determination of the sex finds support in Brahmanical Biology in the same manner that it emphasies the relative predominance of the sperm and the germ cells in the fertilized ovum.
39. Tandula Veyāliya, 1--2. 40. Biology p. 453. 41. "Appam sukkam bahuṁ uuyam. ittbi tattha jāyai / appar uyam bahur sukkam,
puriso tattha jāyai 2(1) (22) duṇhampi rattasukkāņam, tullabhāve napuṁsao 3
itthiuyasamãoge, bimbar tattha jayai" 4 (2) (23) Tandula Veyaliya, p. 13. 42. "Rtusu dvāda sa nišāh, pūrvastisro atra ninditah / ekadasi ca yugmásu, syātputro
anyāsu kanyaka || 4 1/" Tandula Veyaliya, Țikā, p. 4. 43. Taenam sa Tisalā .... taṁ gabbban naisiebim nāiunhehim, .... Să jam
tassa gabbhassa hiar miyam pattham gabbhaposaņam tam dese ya kale ya āhara - maharemani, etc. suhar parivahai / Kalpasūtra 95, pp. 86-87 with Subodhikațika.
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