THEORY OF LIFE 149 



strated yet ... . [but] so near it as to make little 

 risk inhere in predicting the final outcome, that 

 all the essential tissues of the metazoan body are 

 potentially immortal."^ 



6. Peculiarity of the dual-system. — If the Y-plus 

 system is a complex system (in harmony with the 

 several sets of laws that govern its equilibrium), a 

 small piece may become separated from the dual- 

 system, which piece then according to its constitution 

 may develop into a dual-system like the one of which 

 it was a part. The process once started continues in 

 an unending chain of dual-systems, given favorable 

 conditions. 



Peculiarity of the organism. — Through a mi- 

 nute piece that is detached from the parent or- 

 ganism (or organisms) reproduction in its multi- 

 tudinous forms, results in the endless chain of 

 successive generations of organisms. 



Also, it is well known, in some of the lowly 

 life-forms, as H. V. Wilson has shown in the case 

 of sponges, isolated cells taken from a mature 

 animal and placed in a suitable medium, may de- 

 velop into a complete organism. 



7. Peculiarity of the dual-system. — The unique qual- 

 ities of the Z-system, qualities that do not attach to 

 "matter." 



3 The Biology of Death. 67. 



