CHEMISTRY OF THE CELL 



Abstracts of the Communications which comprised the Sym- 

 posium, on the chemistry of the cell, at the first scientific meet- 

 ing of the Columbia University Biochemical Association, held 

 at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, on Feb. 28, 191 1. 



I. INTRODUCTION, INCLUDING REMARKS ON INTRACELLULAR 



WATER^ 



William J. Gies 



Introduction. Joint histological and chemical study makes it 

 evident that every living organism consists primarily of one or 

 more cells containing mixtures of substances undergoing contin- 

 uous, coordinated chemical and physical changes. Cells are the 

 microscopic units of bioplasmic structure. As the so-called "phy- 

 siological units," cells are the centers of biochemical activity, the 

 seats of biological power, the locations of vivifying energy trans- 

 formations, and the dynamic agents in structural enlargement, in 

 repair, and in reproduction. Cells are biophysical factors in con- 

 sciousness and mental phenomena. 



Every organism begins its existence as a single cell. Hered- 

 ity, reproduction, embryonic development, tissue production, 

 growth, repair, regeneration, maintenance, metabolism, body tem- 

 perature, motion and locomotion, conduction of Stimuli, respon- 

 siveness to Stimulation, resistance to and recovery from disease, 

 mentality, etc., are expressions of intracellular forces as affected 

 by inherent Impulses and by both intracellular and extracellular 

 influences. Cells are specially and variously constructed, as well 

 as definitely associated, mechanical agents in life phenomena. Cell 

 constituents are intimately coordinated and functionally adjusted 

 chemical factors in all the manifestations of life. The structural 



* Informal introductory remarks are abstracted on page 63. In tlie prepara- 

 tion of the first two abstracts, free use has been made of the author's comment 

 in the laboratory directions for his courses in physiological chemistry. 



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