108 The Individual Tracks 



cells. Such is the case, also, in the somatarchic divisions, 

 with reference to the daughter cells that continue the 

 germ-track. But as to whether or not this also holds true 

 of the other sister-cell, which forms the beginning of a 

 somatic track, opinions differ. As to whether or not, in 

 the somatic cell-divisions, a corresponding reduction of 

 the latent factors goes hand in hand with the advancing 

 adaptation and specialization of the cells will be discussed 

 in the next chapter. 



I have still to emphasize that the successive genera- 

 tions of cells from the germ-tracks, which evolve from so- 

 matarchic cell-divisions, are not all alike. They have been 

 designated at times either as germ-cells or as embryonic 

 cells. But there is no necessary reason for this in the plant 

 kingdom. It is true that they are all alike in being the 

 bearers of all the hereditary characters of the species, but 

 they bear them only in a latent condition. They may be in- 

 trinsically very different in respect to their active heredi- 

 tary characters. And, even if the whole germ-track does 

 not pass through such a rich variety of forms and adapta- 

 tions as are furnished to us by the somatic cells, yet, com- 

 pared with a single somatic path, however profusely the 

 latter may branch, it may, by no means, be second to the 

 latter in regard to differentiation. On the contrary, the 

 very power of producing, one after another, the most 

 varied somatic tracks, indicates a continuous alteration in 

 its activity. 



The cells of the germ-tracks are by no means always 

 such as remain in a juvenile condition during the whole 

 duration of their existence, or which, between quickly suc- 

 ceeding cell-divisions, have only a short individual life. 

 The prothallia of ferns and horse-tails consist of green, 

 vigorously assimilating cells, through the divisions of 



