358 THE FIRST ORGANISMS 



The origin of the highly dynamic 

 state of the systems. 



The position is radically altered if we include in the field 

 of our investigations not merely one, but several open 

 systems, existing simultaneously within a particular medium. 

 This may be shown even by working with relatively simple 

 models. For example, when there are several hydrodynamic 

 stationary systems with common initial and final reservoirs,® 

 the greater part of the water will proceed through the system 

 which enables it to pass through most quickly. In the case 

 of several parallel, chemical open systems with a common 

 external medium it is obvious that the main flow of sub- 

 stances will pass through the system which, by virtue of its 

 internal organisation (e.g. the presence of more efficient 

 catalysts, etc.), provides the greatest over-all rate of chemical 

 transformation. In this sense the chemical stationary system 

 in which chemical processes occur fastest will have an advan- 

 tage over other parallel chemical stationary systems so long 

 as the increased rate of occurrence of the processes does not 

 disturb the relationship of rates necessary for the self- 

 preservation of the system ; that is to say, if it is compatible 

 with the prolonged existence of the particular open system. 

 In this connection we must bear in mind what was pointed 

 out in the previous chapter, namely that, where there is a 

 complicated network of chemical reactions, the attainment 

 of the maximal rate by a process involves not merely the 

 acceleration of one of the stages of the transformation but 

 the establishment of a more effective relationship between 

 all the parameters of the process.^ 



From what has been said it is clear that a dynamically stable 

 coacervate drop capable of self-preservation and growth, 

 which had acquired the ability to transform substances more 

 quickly during its interaction with the external medium, 

 would have a significant advantage over other drops which 

 were immersed in the same solution of inorganic and organic 

 compounds but in which the characteristic chemical pro- 

 cesses proceeded considerably more slowly. In the general 

 mass of coacervates the relative proportion of such more 

 dynamic drops would become greater and greater. There 



