Paratype

PARATYPE, a term proposed by H. Siemens to designate the totality of non-hereditary characteristics of an organism. The paratype, according to Siemens, does not coincide with Johannsen's term phenotype (see). While the latter represents the result of the interaction of the genotype (see) with the specific environmental conditions of the organism's development, paratypic traits are the product exclusively of external conditions. Thus, according to Siemens, the paratype is the non-hereditary part of the organism's phenotype. Accordingly, Siemens distinguishes within the phenotype idiotypic traits (the same as genotypic), which are hereditary, and paratypic traits, which are non-hereditary—the pure phenotype. However, such a division suffers from methodological inaccuracy, since neither practically nor theoretically can one demarcate traits that are the result exclusively of external conditions, just as there are no traits caused exclusively by internal, genotypic factors: all traits of an organism are to one degree or another the result of the interaction of the genotype and the external environment. Therefore, Johannsen is right in asserting that "purely phenotypic" traits do not exist. From this, of course, it does not follow that all traits of an organism are inherited. In general, as the same Johannsen correctly points out, the observed traits of an organism—the phenotype—as such are not inherited; only the totality of genes—the genotype—is transmitted by inheritance. The genotype, in turn, is characterized by a definite interaction with specific developmental conditions (see Heredity) . The term paratype should be applied conditionally in relation to traits caused by the drastic intervention of external conditions, such as traumatization, infection, and also to cases of so-called "false heredity" (e.g., "hereditary" syphilis). However, even in this case, one should not forget that the very nature of the organism's paratypic reaction (e.g., the response to infection) may reflect its genotypic features. In addition to the term paratype, Siemens proposed corresponding derivative terms: 1) parakinesis—the phenomenon of eliciting a paratypic trait under the influence of some environmental factor; 2) paravariation—the result of an organism's change during parakinesis; 3) paraphoria—the transmission of a paratypic trait to the next generation by means of blastophthoria, aftereffect, prolonged modification, and similar methods.