284 SYMBIOGENESIS 



lower the status of the organism (social or biological). Every- 

 where, indeed, the bio-economic, physiological, and bio- 

 chemical factors were found to dovetail into one another. 



A further parallel of this kind exists in the fact of bio- 

 logical and physiological antagonisms according to values, 

 expressing itself both in nutritional and genetic (Mendelian) 

 phenomena. 



We saw that Mendelian inheritance involved the extrusion 

 of impure strains, and that segregation in reality constitutes a 

 third line of defence of racial purity ; digestion and antecedent 

 fertilisation processes having previously done their part to 

 preserve the race from impeding foreign matter. 



Adequate (symbiotic) "nutritional" amphimixis we saw 

 to form the basis of desirable genetic transmutation, the 

 particular share of the fertilisation process in symbiogenesis 

 consisting in the provision of scope for further and enhanced 

 symbiotic efforts, leading up to a symbiotic " elan," by dint 

 of which the highest concentration of the bodily powers is 

 effected and an uplift of the race is brought about. 



We also concluded that the power of reaction against 

 injurious forces is essentially a symbiotic power, that it neces- 

 sitates a reliance upon the symbiotic, i.e., the concentrated or 

 combined power of the organism as a totality. That there is a 

 limit of wholesome reaction to mutilations and similar 

 stimulations was evidenced by the case of pruning, which also 

 showed that the deep-seated prejudice, especially among 

 gardeners, in favour of mutilations and "stimulants " must be 

 fought against. 



In the majority of cases the reactions produced by mutila- 

 tions and stimulations prove costly, and the loss of vitality very 

 generally far outweighs what is gained in other directions. 

 When an " infection," nutritive or genetic, is caused, the body 

 is faced by the task of re-organising itself accordingly, which 

 requires vitality, effort, and time, with special digestion, 

 incubation, and maturation processes. If pathological strains 

 are introduced, an "alloy" has to be formed, and costly 



