262 PHYSIOLOGY OF BACTERIA 



180 X 82 

 being fermented to lactic acid, will liberate n ^ -.rs23 



calories = 2,460 X 10"^^ cal. If this energy, in form of 

 heat, would distribute itself only upon the two lactic 

 acid molecules formed whose weight would be 



§~^, = 30 X 10-2' gm., 



these two molecules would show a rise in temperature 

 of 82°C., (assuming, for simplicity's sake, the specific 

 heat of lactic acid to be 1). But the enzyme which 

 brought about the change of sugar to acid must be 

 directly connected with these molecules, and must 

 receive its share of the energy. 



If this energy is to be used at all for growth, it must be 

 used at once, before it is radiated or conducted away. 

 A potential of energy is probably required to bring about 

 any synthesis in the cell. Synthesis cannot be accom- 

 plished by a uniform rise of temperature of the cell. To 

 utilize the energy of this potential established at the 

 ''molecule tips" of the enzyme, the synthetizing mecha- 

 nism (such as the chromosomes, and probably other 

 preliminary catalysts as well) must be in close proximity 

 to the source of energy. It does not seem probable that 

 energy could be sent only in one direction, as a beam, to 

 the mechanism of synthesis. 



Our knowledge of the growth process would be greatly benefitted, 

 if we could get a conception of the number of different chemical 

 processes necessary to change the food to the compounds which 

 make up the cell wall, the protoplasm, and the reserve substances 

 of the cell. Many different steps would be necessary, but with a 

 given building material, it should be possible to estimate the number 

 of steps approximately. 



It would then be possible to sort out these different steps in groups 

 of identical or homologous reactions, such as the condensation of 

 formaldehyde and of acetaldehyde. It is imaginable that these 



