EVOLUTION AND HUMAN DESTINY 



molecules that constitute them have a very specialized 

 function. They are the carriers of the code that governs 

 the development of the new individual resulting from 

 the fusion and subsequent fissions of such genetic cells. 

 Little is known at the present time about the nature 

 of the mechanism by means of which these protein 

 molecules (genes) control the development of the 

 new individual. Yet even without a knowledge of the 

 mechanism, it is still possible to see that the existence 

 of such a type of process is absolutely essential, if 

 multicellular life is to survive. 



As has been shown, some sort of cell conjugation or 

 fusion must take place in the more complex creatures, 

 if the cell material is to escape gradual impairment of 

 function leading to death, not merely for the individ- 

 ual, but ultimately for the entire species. Now as 

 fusion of entire organisms, or effective interchange of 

 cell nuclei does not appear to be mechanically feasible 

 in metazoa, the remaining alternative is fusion of spe- 

 cially designated cells, the structure of which is repre- 

 sentative of that of the entire organism. Only in this 

 manner can a new individual of the species be created 

 which is inherently free from the somatic mutation 

 damage of its parents. 



At this point the question may arise in the reader's 

 mind that, after all, the material of the genetic cells is 

 as much subject to mutation as that of the somatic 

 structure. This is of course true. However what matters 



44 



