228 IV. THE PRINCIPLES OF LIFE PHENOMENA 



form larger masses. If proteins synthesized in the primeval oceans 

 had a similar property, the formation of protoplasm-like masses would 

 be only a natural result. 



The property of proteins of globulin nature to form virus-like 

 particles is also shown in an experimental result obtained by Gross 

 (1), who has found that virus-like threads or filaments sedimentable 

 by ultracentrifugation are produced in water solutions of crystalline 

 trypsinogen added with a few crystals of trypsin preparation after 

 incubation at 5°C. for 3 to 7 days. Takahashi and Ishii (2) have isolated 

 from plant tissues infected with tobacco mosaic virus a protein which 

 formed at a weakly acid pH high molecular weight aggregates readily 

 sedimentable in the ultracentrifuge. This plymerization was rever- 

 sible. 



In short, it seems little doubt that proteins with globulin nature 

 are able in a weakly acid solution, probably under an assistance of 

 lipids, to form protoplasm-like masses. The primary organisms were 

 most probably generated and evolved in the matrix composed of such 

 masses, which on the other hand, may be regarded as the most primi- 

 tive primary organisms. Oparin (3) stated that the primitive life might 

 be originated from coacervates, while it is possible to regard the pro- 

 toplasm-like mass above mentioned as a kind of coacervates composed 

 of protein and lipids. 



3. The Evolution of the Primitive Organisms 



The Protoplasm-like masses produced in the primitive ocean might 

 be similar both in their appearance and chemical composition to the 

 protoplasm of the organisms existing at present. It is highly pro- 

 bable, however, that the component proteins and lipids of the primeval 

 protoplasm, being not fitted for exhibiting the complicated life pheno- 

 mena, were never similar to those of present organisms, and hence the 

 ability to change the structure in accordance with the environmental 

 effects might be insignificant as compared with the present organisms, 

 and moreover if they could exhibit the property to rearrange the 

 structure of weaker masses, i. e., the property to act as assimilase, it 

 would also be insignificant. 



Nevertheless, however trivial these properties might be, the 

 masses might change their structure when certain stimuli were given, 

 and the change thus raised would spread in the masses. Since the 

 change produced in the protein structure may generally be reversible, 

 the changed structure in the masses might also recover their original 

 structure on the removal of the stimulus, but when some irreversible 



