66 TRANSACTIONS AND J'ltOGEEDINGS OF THE [Sess. Lxv. 



The bioinores are alive because they are formed of bio- 

 molecules, and the bioplasma is alive Ijecause it is formed 

 of biomores. The great heterogenity of the biomores of 

 any mass of bioplasma will render the realisation of their 

 conditions of life a matter of extraordinary difficulty. 

 The biomores of the Idoplasm are regarded as forming 

 a symbiotic system, and herein is found a marvellous 

 realisation of their conditions of life. Just as the 

 fungus and alga forming the lichen can live in conditions 

 of environment unsuitable for either separately, so the 

 biomores of the bioplasm, which could not find the necessary 

 conditions of life if separated, realise these conditions by 

 their union in the bioplasm. Their chemical constitution 

 not being uniform, their vital functions will be different, 

 and hence there will be a physiological division of labour 

 — their foods and secreta will vary ; thus the secreta of 

 one biomore may be food for another, and reciprocally. 

 0, for example, is a food of the biomolecule, and CO2 a 

 secretion. But COg is absorbed by others, C retained and 

 given off. The latter in turn is absorbed by other bio- 

 molecules. So with starch. Starch is a secretion of some 

 biomores, and is absorbed and assimilated by others. 

 Secreta again, of certain biomores, may be ferments to 

 prepare food for others. Thus the author exemplifies the 

 close relation of nutrition and secretion between biomores 

 of the same cell, and emphasises the importance of sym- 

 biosis in explaining the manifestation of life. He has a 

 word in passing on the importance of an allied phenomenon 

 — prohiosis — and its value in the phenomenon of ontogeny. 

 By probiosis he means the anterior life of organisms, in so 

 far as this life has prepared a favourable or necessary 

 environment for other organisms living later, whether of 

 the same or different species, e.g. the pi'^^ohiosis of lichens 

 and mosses supplies humus for higher plants. 



This conception of symbiosis of the biomores of the 

 bioplasm leads to a proper appreciation of the value of the 

 interbiomoric fluid as the internal bioplasmatic medium. It 

 acts as a reservoir of food and secreta, and therefore as a 

 medium of nutritive exchange, and renders the biomores 

 independent, in part at least, of the external medium. 



The conception of symbiosis implies that of a symbiotic 



