868 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



The fate of ovarian tissues when planted on different organs, C. R. Stock- 

 AKD {Arch. Entwickl. Meclu Organ., 32 {1911), pt. 2, pp. 298-307, pis. 3, figs. 2).— 

 AVith guinea pigs transplanted ovarian tissue did not live long, though longer 

 when planted into the testicles than in the other organs. The fate of the trans- 

 plantetl tissues of salamanders depended largely upon the nature of the organ 

 upon which the tissue was transplanted. 



The regulatory process in org'anisms, C. M. Child {Jour. Morph., 22 {1911), 

 Xo. 2, pp. ril-22.i). — A discussion of the significance of important work by 

 different investigators on a wide range of phenomena of plants and animals, 

 commonly called " regulation." The organism is regarded as a physico-chemical 

 system, with no necessity of assuming entelechy or other vitalistic hypotheses. 

 The processes of metabolism in the single cell, known as chemical reactions, are 

 considered as of the same nature as the regulation of vital organs, regeneration 

 of lost parts, and reproduction; the processes of physiological equilibrium and 

 equilibration constituting the phenomena of regulation, which is the funda- 

 mental problem of life. 



"All of our ex])erimental investigations of li\ing organisms are directly con- 

 cerned with the problem of regulation in one way or another. In fact, there 

 are only two possible methods of investigating and analyzing the phenomena of 

 life; one is concerned with regulation in the living organism, the other with 

 the observation and analysis of results of stopping the life processes at this or 

 that particular point." 



Further remarks on the chemical mechanics of cell division, T. B. Robert- 

 son {Arch. Enticickl. Mech. Organ., 32 {1911), pt. 2, pp. 308-3i3).— Various 

 sources of error in McClendon's experiments (E. S. R., 24, p. 575) are pointed 

 out, and it is shown that oil droplets do not divide in alcohol-water mixtures 

 containing more than 50 per cent of alcohol because of the presence of the 

 alcohol and not because they are submerged. Results of the author's experi- 

 ments convince him that cell division is attributable to an equatorial diminu- 

 tion of surface tension, and he states that cell division due to an equatorial 

 increase in surface tension is hydromechanically untenable. 



Mitokinetism in the mitotic spindle and in the polyasters, M. Hartog 

 {Arch. Ent wield. Mech. Organ., 21 {1909). pt. 1, pp. lJ,l-lJi5, figs. 6).— A reply 

 to objections which have been raised by Baltzer to the author's account of the 

 forces iuvohed in mitosis. 



The continuity of mitochondria through successive generations and its 

 significance, M. E. Faur^-Fremiet {Anat. Anz., 36 {1910), No. 5-1, pp. 

 J 86-191, figs. 3; abs. in Jour. Roy. Micros. 8oc. [London], 1911, No. 2, p. 

 100). — The development of mitochondria was found to accompany cell division 

 and a continuity was thus established. There is a discussion as to their 

 importance as carriers of heredity. 



Some cytological corrections, L. C. Bragg {Amer. Breeders Mag., 2 (1911), 

 No. 1, pp. 7.'i-16). — ^The three errors referred to, which still pass as facts -in 

 most text-books on cytology and heredity, are (1) that there are a specific 

 number of chromosomes in the germ cells of organisms, (2) that the gametes 

 have an equal number of chromosomes, and (3) that the chi'omosomes may be 

 used by the taxonomist in classification. 



Chromosomes as bearers of heredity, H. E. Ziegleb {Jahresh. Ver. Vater- 

 liind. Natiirk. Wiirttcinl)., 61 {1911), pp. 4S8-Jf95, figs. J/). — Affirmative evidence 

 is cited to substantiate the view that inherited traits are chiefly transmitted by 

 means of the chromosomes. Examples are given of the possible combinations 

 and probable percentages of inheritance of characteristics, assuming that the 

 germ cells of both parents contain 12 chromosomes each. 



