2. 



Biological variation differs from all inor- 

 ganic changes and motamorphosos in that the newly 

 acquired structuroc cxort a directing influence 

 upon the future grov/th of the individual, and are 

 perpetuated "by a process of heredity. 



Biological reproduction is like-zrisG so dis- 

 similar from any of the other processes of nature 

 that it seems impossible to establish even the 

 remotest analogy, and much loss to attempt to 

 explain it on the basis of any of the known phe- 

 nomena of physics' or chemistry. 



These fundamental life processes are exhibited 

 just as fully and completely by the simplest bacteria 

 as by the highest plants and animals* All living 

 organism.s, notv;ithstanding their diversity of form 

 and appearance, must possess something in common 

 which gives rise to that peculiar characteristic 

 called "life". 



If th 3 fundamental life processes are due 

 primarily to some specific configuration of 

 tissues or membranes, then such configuration 

 would have to occur in every living organism, 

 including the simplest bacteria. Y/e find in 

 nature many structural uniformities which occur 

 more or less extensively among certain species 

 of plants and animals, but these are the result 

 of evolution and v;ill be found to disappear as 

 we go down the scale of plant or animal life. 

 Even the chromosomes which occur in the cells of 

 all higher plants and animals have never ^03on 

 observed in any of the bacteria, and therefore 

 cannot be regarded as th-e primary and original 

 cause of the fundament^-! life processes. It 

 would not be justifiable, in the absence of 

 experimental proof, to assume that chromosomes 

 or similar structural complexities exist in 

 bacteria, merely because they have been observed 

 to exist in the cells of the higher plants and 

 animal s . 



