70 A. KEYNAN AND M. HALMANN 



some subsequent steps involved in germination. The system 

 proposed might be useful in the analysis of the sequence of 

 biochemical events during the germination of bacterial spores. 



REFERENCES 



1 O. Halvorson, Bacteriol. Rev., 23 (1959) 267. 



2 W. K. Harrell and H. Halvorson, /. Bacteriol., 69 (1955) 275. 



3 R. O'Connor and H. Halvorson, /. Bacteriol., 78 (1959) 844. 



4 C. WoESE AND H. MoROWiTZ, /. BcicterioL, 76 (1958) 81. 



DISCUSSION 



Grossowicz: Does the experiment with octyl alcohol mean 

 that, after what you call the 'prime event' an induction of 

 enzyme synthesis takes place? 



Keynan: There is no evidence of enzyme induction, there is 

 of course room for speculation. 



Harpaz: Is anything known on the effect of mercury com- 

 pounds in very small doses on the stimulation of germination? 



O. Halvorson : At the concentrations we have used, the mercury 

 compounds inhibited germination. 



Keynan: We tested mercury compounds and they always 

 stopped germination the minute they were introduced into the 

 system. Whether it affects the triggering, I do not know, but it 

 certainly stops the second step. 



Hestrin: I do not quite understand the implication of the 

 fact that only part of the spore population germinates depending 

 on the temperature of pretreatment. 



Keynan : Some spores require lower temperatures and shorter 

 times, others higher temperatures for longer times. 



O. Halvorson: I agree that individual spores have varying 

 requirements for germination. 



