GENETICS 81 



one of whose activities is to produce enzymes 

 which, being set free, act in each cell, and take 

 part in catalytic reaction in the cytoplasm," ^ he 

 further states: "This conclusion seems to coincide 

 in broad outlines, though not in all details, with 

 the views that have been generally held since the 

 hypothesis of De Vries." ^ Indeed, the far-reaching 

 importance of enzymes in the living body makes it 

 very easy to accept such a view, even though de- 

 tails are lacking. The contributions of Troland,^ 

 and lately of Alexander and Bridges ^ carry out 

 some interesting considerations of these matters, 

 and Goldschmidt's work,^ also mentioned at some 

 length in Conklin's paper cited above, is perhaps 

 the most detailed of all published theories. These 

 several works are interesting and suggestive; even 

 though they attempt such detailed treatment that 

 they are unavoidably speculative, the reiteration 

 of interpretations based upon enzymatic action is 

 an indication of its fundamental importance. 



The perpetuation of the gene is highly suggestive 

 of autocatalysis ; the control exercised by the nu- 

 cleus over cytoplasmic action is equally suggestive 

 of heterocatalytic powers. Whether Goldschmidt's 

 statement: "... die Natur <ies Gens die eines 



3 Am. Nat, Vol. LX, p. 510, 1926. 



4 Ibid., Vol. LXIII, p. 10, 1929. 

 6 Ibid., Vol. XLI, p. 326, 1917. 



« Colloid Chemistry, pp. 9-58, 1928. 



^ Physiologische Theorie der Vererbung, Berlin, 1927. 



