176 WHAT IS LIFE 



ing through a continuous series of intermediate con- 

 ditions." Matter is either "Hving matter" or it 

 is "non-living matter." 



According to my theory, "living matter" always 

 and only means a dual system, an atomic-intra- 

 atomic system, as defined. {See p. 154.) The merest 

 speck of protoplasm as a Y-plus system is different 

 from non-living matter. Thus even the lowest and 

 feeblest life-form is differentiated from all non-living 

 matter, and differentiated by the basic peculiarities 

 that are common to all organisms from lowest to 

 highest. (See pp. 49 and 50.) That it is difficult, on 

 ordinary examination, to distinguish between a speck 

 of protoplasm and non-living matter, means nothing 

 here. 



XVI. The theory of the cause of the differences 

 in properties between organic and inorganic sub- 

 stances. 



As everyone knows, the matter of organisms, and 

 the material products of life-processes, are described 

 by chemistry as organic substances, or carbon com- 

 pounds. (See pp. 51 and 92.) All other substances 

 are inorganic substances. Very striking peculiarities 

 are found to characterize organic substances, and — 

 far from contributing the terms with which to ac- 

 count for the organism — must find their statement 

 in terms of atomic physics. 



