THE BREATH OF LIFE 



reproduction, spontaneous and amoeboid movement, 

 osmotic pressure, karyokinesis, etc., were equally 

 apparent in the non-living; therefore he concluded 

 that life is only one of the many chemical reactions, 

 and that it is not improbable that it will yet be pro- 

 duced by chemical synthesis in the laboratory. The 

 logic of the position taken by Professor Schafer 

 and of the school to which he belongs, demands this 

 artificial production of Me an achievement that 

 seems no nearer than it did a half -century ago. 

 When it has been attained, the problem will be sim- 

 plified, but the mystery of life will by no means have 

 been cleared up. One follows these later biochem- 

 ists in working out their problem of the genesis of 

 Me with keen interest, but always with a feeling 

 that there is more in their conclusions than is justi- 

 fied by their premises. For my own part, I am 

 convinced that whatever is, is natural, but to obtain 

 lif e I feel the need of something of a different order 

 from the force that evokes the spark from the flint 

 and the steel, or brings about the reaction of chem- 

 ical compounds. If asked to explain what this some- 

 thing is that is characteristic of living matter, I 

 should say intelligence. 



The new school of biologists start with matter 

 that possesses extraordinary properties with 

 matter that seems inspired with the desire for life, 

 and behaving in a way that it never will behave in 

 the laboratory. They begin with the earth's surface 

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