Chapter Five 



Theory of Life 



I. GENERAL POSTULATES 



THE prerequisites of the theory are: 

 1. A condition of a critical concentration 

 of ions. 



2. The (modified) Bohr atom. 

 The theory that results, taking this as our start- 

 ing-point, is summarized on pages 152 and 153. 



II. PARTICULAR ASSUMPTIONS 



Outside the specific, central, basic and indis- 

 pensable requirement that there be a condition of a 

 critical concentration of ions, only a few of the 

 simplest assumptions are needed: 



1. Chemical constitution: This may be simple or 

 complex. As suitable one may picture the presum- 

 able chemical constitution provided by the early 

 earth — its crust, its waters and atmosphere — just 

 prior to the advent of life. 



2. Temperature: Any temperature within the lim- 

 ited range of temperatures favorable to the life- 

 process. 



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