98 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE 



tions (of great complexity) of these colloidal mole- 

 cules or micellae. We can only suppose, therefore, 

 that under the influence of heat, or of heat and 

 light, these great molecules have been variously 

 combined, though by stages wholly unknown, so 

 as to initiate this or that kind of protoplasm. 

 When we know what leads simple molecules to 

 combine into the great colloidal molecules, we shall 

 be in a better position for understanding how or 

 why these micellae again combine in this or that 

 way, so as to form one or other of the innumerable 



/ ' 



varieties of protoplasm. 



And in this relation it must be borne in mind 

 that there is no abrupt demarcation between cata- 

 lysers of mineral origin and those formed in cells 

 which go by the name of enzymes, the mode of 

 action of both being similar. This is well shown 

 by Duclaux (loc. dt., pp. 260-264). One of 

 the most active enzymes laccase has been dis- 

 covered by G. Bertrand to owe its oxidising pro- 

 perties mainly to the manganese which it contains; 

 while other workers have found that manganese 

 may be replaced by cerium, lanthane, or iron. So 

 that, as Duclaux says, : this probably holds for 

 all metals which yield soluble salts having two 



