INTEGRATION 23 



genes, plasma genes, viruses, and adaptive and other en- 

 zymes. A drug may act upon these bodies, preventing 

 their self- rep reduction, or causing them to reproduce in 

 a new manner. Either of these activities would be ex- 

 pected to produce pronounced changes in the cell. The 

 problems involved in instances such as these, where 

 drugs are interfering with the genetical control of the 

 cell, will also be dealt with in more detail later. 



Integration 



Even from the incomplete account which has been 

 given of the physico-chemical organisation of the cell it 

 is clear that each particular region of the cell consists of 

 a complex interlocking of very many simultaneously 

 active physico-chemical systems. Each particular region 

 of the cell has its properties defined by a vast group of 

 variables, some of which are linked and some of which 

 are independant. Our understanding of these is very far 

 from complete. In some instances the necessary physics 

 and chemistry is almost completely unknown. In very 

 few instances are we able at present to deal quantitative- 

 ly with these variables. When sufficient information is 

 available to permit completely quantitative treatment, 

 it is likely that the system will be so complex that it will 

 be impossible to utilise this knowledge without the aid 

 of electronic calculating machines. 



