182 WHAT IS LIFE 



concentration of ions develops. There are no free ions 

 in the normal healthy cell^^ but injury to the cell 

 introduces the presence of free ions. Free ions would 

 appear also following autolysis of a cell. There can 

 be absolutely no doubt that among the several possible 

 conditions following trauma or other injury is the 

 specific condition which, according to the theory, 

 must result in a neoplasm. 



4. The critical ionic concentration condition leads 

 to the establishment of a peculiar equilibrium in the 

 formation of a dual system, as described in Chapter 

 Five, Theory of Life, 



5. A growth results: A cancer or other neoplasm 

 forms. Theoretically, neoplasms would fall under 

 two general groups: (a) One group of neoplasms 

 would consist of cells that form a connected growth. 

 (b) The other group would consist of cells or of less 

 complex units that are more or less independent, 

 that is, they do not form a connected growth. In 

 some forms indeed the neoplasm would consist of a 

 colony of highly individual units, which might be of 

 almost unimaginable smallness. 



XXI. A new theory of the origin of species. (See 

 Chapter Seven.) 



The difference between this theory and the current 

 theory of the origin of species is apparent. 



'' See Wolfgang Pauli, Kolloid Ckemie der Muskelkontraktion. 



