382 THE FIRST ORGANISMS 



place in the nucleic acid-rich microsomes, as has been shown 

 by experiments using labelled atoms/* The energy needed 

 for this reaction is made available in the mitochondria. It 

 has been supposed that it enters the microsomes in the form 

 of high-energy bonds of activated peptides containing the 

 y-glutamyl group. ^^ The microsomes themselves seem to be 



f^uc/eus 



f/uc/eo/us 



60/gifiM 



-Microsomes 



,''0 •T°\ • 



' • . - o °y • „ 



Af/toc/iondnot 



ZLL 



Mijfi- energy -ionds 'sc/ife' 

 precursors of pro terns, lipids 

 snd Mrdofigorifes 



Fig. 35. Diagram of the formation of cytoplasmic 



particles and their interaction with other elements 



(after Lindberg and Ernster). 



formed from proteins, ribonucleic acids synthesised under 

 the control of the nucleus and lipids which are formed in the 

 mitochondria and stored in the Golgi apparatus.^® 



We give a diagram of these interactions of the formed 

 elements of the cell as it is given by Lindberg and Ernster'*^ 



(Fig. 35)- 



The form of organisation of protoplasm which we have 



described is extremely efficient. With an organisation of this 

 sort, owing to its definite spatial localisation, complete in- 

 dependent blocks of well ' assembled ' enzymes interact in 

 the performance of certain vital functions. Thus we have 

 here a well-organised ' division of labour ' between the 

 various structures of the cell operating to achieve the maxi- 

 mum effect in the transformation of energy and the synthesis 

 of living material. 



Naturally this sort of organisation could only arise as a 

 result of the prolonged development of living matter and it 



