226 



IV. THE PRINCIPLES OF LIFE PHENOMENA 



are seen, some of which occasionally are of considerable sizes and 

 have an appearance of nucleus. Consequently they strikingly resemble 

 in appearance some primitive single-celled organisms. They are also 



I 1 10 A« 



Fig. 22. Protozoa-like masses prepared from castor beans. 



similar to the organisms in their chemical composition, and composed 

 of globulin-like proteins and lipids, which the latter are contained in 

 an amount about 1/4 of the former. 



Proper chemical or physical effects administered to the mass or 

 the artificial cell cause to produce in the body minute particles which 

 will again disappear gradually if the effects are removed. Thus, the 

 reversible coagulation can take place as in the usual protoplasm, 

 although the reversibility is very tedious. This fact indicates that 

 the artificial cell can exhibit an irritability which is generally believed 

 to be an essential character of living. If the stimuli are too severe 

 the total body will be coagulated and then disintegrated into minute 

 particles just as in ordinary cells. 



If minute particles prepared from castor beans are given to the 

 artificial cells, the former will be gradually fused into the latter, that 

 is to say, the artificial cells eat the particles to grow, and when they 

 grow to a certain extent, they will undergo fission into smaller bodies. 



