What are the two camps among performationists?

• A. Eggists and Spermists
• B. Ovists and Spermists
• C. Gametes and Zygotes
• D. Embryologists and Geneticists

Answer: (B)

The distinction between the two camps among preformationists is accurately represented by the terms "Ovists" and "Spermists." Ovists believed that the entire organism was preformed within the egg, meaning that all structures and traits of the offspring were already present in miniature form prior to fertilization. In contrast, Spermists proposed that the preformation of the organism occurred within the sperm, suggesting that the traits of the organism were contained within the male gamete.

This debate is significant in the history of biology and genetics as it reflects early attempts to understand reproduction and development, revealing the contrasting perspectives on how organisms are formed and how traits are passed from one generation to the next. The terminology captures these fundamental beliefs: Ovists focused on the role of the egg, while Spermists emphasized the importance of the sperm, representing the two main perspectives during the era of preformationism.