WHAT IS LIFE? 49 



everywhere, and that the cell must plan, mix and guide 

 the actions of the chemical forces and matter just as man 

 does in order to obtain and produce these artificial com- 

 pounds found in life. If intellect is not there to guide and 

 direct the matter and force of the universe, nothing will 

 be produced. Heat influences the actions of the atoms 

 and molecules of matter. Even chemical attraction gives 

 way to heat, so that all bodies at sufficient temperature 

 are decomposed into free atoms or elementary parts. In 

 this way heat performs a work in so far as it separates 

 masses from each other, consequently a certain amount 

 of mechanical work is equivalent to a certain quantity of 

 heat and vice versa. In chemical action a transformation 

 of energy of one kind into another takes place. The me- 

 chanical energy of the atoms is converted into heat, 

 which may again be used for the other forms of mechani- 

 cal energy. This explains why heat is developed in a 

 chemical process. Every chemical process can be called 

 a combustion. In a violent disturbance of the atoms and 

 molecules of matter, we have the common phenomena of 

 fire and light. The fact is that heat is a source of stored 

 or convertible energy. The only source of heat at the 

 surface of the earth is the sun. The cell must obtain heat 

 or energy somewhere with which to produce the atomic 

 changes and molecular disturbances or chemical actions 

 and changes desired. Without heat the cell could not 

 produce the products required like fats, starches and 

 sugars, any more than man could produce his works of 

 art or. products from the factory where chemical action 

 or heat is requjred. The productions of the cell with 

 which plants and animals are put together are products 

 of art. They are products that the forces of nature cannot 

 produce. The irons and metals can never build an engine 

 nor can the stones and brick produce a house. 



