Primary Actions 269 



chromosome, is meant; it is right when the free duphcates of dif- 

 ferent size are meant. The rather vague idea that the genie material 

 itself is also its first product set loose in the cell is an old one, though 

 worked out in detail only by Koltzoff (1928ff.)- The idea of auto- 

 heterocatalytic action from Hagedoom to Troland (1917) received a 

 meaning for genetics only when I was able to link genie action with 

 reaction velocities ( Goldschmidt, 1916c) and to work this into a 

 complete theory of genie action (Goldschmidt, 1920a, 1927). 



It is obvious that in this discussion we assume the proteinic part 

 of the nucleoprotein to be the genie material, as was discussed before 

 in detail. If DNA were considered the genie material, the diflBculty 

 would arise as to how to bridge the gap from the nucleic acid mole- 

 cule to enzymatic gene products, which should be proteins. Since it 

 is hardly possible to base primary gene actions upon nucleic acids, 

 this seems to be a major difficulty, though I mentioned previously 

 {I 2 B b bb) that Watson and Crick speak of possible enzymatic 

 actions of the nucleic acid molecule. Another point of view which is 

 coming to the fore is that DNA produces RNA, which is decisive in 

 protein synthesis. The biologist must wait, then, for the biochemist 

 to solve these problems. Meanwhile, he must use some picture of 

 what happens at the chromosomal site, realizing that he works with a 

 picture which may have no resemblance to reality. 



Assuming, then, the first genie products to be partial duplicates 

 of the genie material, from free radicals and side chains up to 

 polypeptides and proteins, released by the breaking, or the non- 

 establishment from the beginning, of hydrogen-phosphorus-peptide 

 bonds, they are present first in molecular or submolecular quantities. 

 If not at once moved away to the nuclear sap, the natural place of 

 their next interactions, they would occupy the surface of the chromo- 

 some according to the fixed pattern of chromosomal architecture. 

 Chemical interactions of whatever kind would require direct contact, 

 which, on the surface of the chromosome, could be accomplished by 

 different kinds of foldings. But it is very difficult to conceive of such a 

 folding process which would bring together the necessary partners 

 and in the necessary order. This would be still more difficult to ac- 

 complish if the classic theory of the gene were accepted and the units 

 of interaction were entire genes. Thus it is rather improbable that the 

 first reactions involving the primary gene products take place in situ 

 in the chromosome. But such an assumption is frequently made, even 

 taken for granted, by the adherents of the classic gene. Actually it 

 plays a decisive role in many attempts at an explanation of position 



