82 Causes and Course of Organic Evolution 



In turning from the Acaryota to the Caryota or nucleated 

 organisms, for evidence as to the possible existence of biotic 

 energy, it should be again emphasized that in undoubtedly 

 non-nucleate genera, such as the simpler Schizophycese and 

 Schizomycetes, active and delicate response to environal stim- 

 uli, as well as a determinate growth action in a given direction 

 as resulting therefrom, are comparatively feeble. So they 

 usually have a spread-out or irregular or botryold growth- 

 outline as in masses of Glceocapsa, Nostoc, Sarcina, Micrococcus, 

 etc. But in higher types like the Oscillatoriacece and Rivular- 

 iacece, where evolving chromatin or nuclear substance is pres- 

 ent, the degree of response is greatly more exact and delicate. 

 Again amongst the higher bacteria, that live amid rich inor- 

 ganic or organic media, delicate and often rapid response to 

 thermic, lumic, chemic, and electric stimuli can be traced 

 (41- 34, 4^: 38). It is in such forms again that chromatin or 

 even a definite nucleus has been asserted to exist. 



Therefore, it seems generally true that evolving chromatin 

 organization confers added and more condensed energy activities. 

 To this we shall return later. 



In the whole of the Caryota, the evolving nucleo-protein 

 chromatin granules, chromidia, or chromatin skein already 

 spoken of for the Acaryota, have assumed definite form, at 

 least during some stage of the organism's existence, and it 

 constitutes the nucleus. The appearance of this structure 

 then, in the evolution of organisms, is of exceptional interest, 

 for not only does it give to the whole of the Caryota those 

 important characters which we now associate with nucleated 

 cells, it is the concomitant of, and is we believe the expression 

 of, a more complex and condensed organic energy than even 

 the biotic, and which we propose to name in future discussion 

 the cognitic energy. 



From the studies of Hansgirg (30), Hegler (43), PhiUips 

 (35), and Olive (^^), as well as other observers since 

 on the Schizophycese, from observations made directly by 

 the writer, and from more doubtful statements regarding the 

 higher bacteria, it seems assured that granules gradually appear 



