82 



Different genes participate in the effort to produce the resulting plant or plant 

 organ. Different plants or plant organs on the other hand are found to share 

 in the work of certain genes, or combination of genes ; or perhaps we may say 

 that the word " participation " points to the future, wliile the word " sharing " 

 points to the work accomplished in the past. ' Thus, different genes participate in 

 the work of producing a certain result, while different plants share with one 

 another the work of certain genes. It must be admitted, however, that my 

 theory does not necessarily agree with that used in genetics*, but is rather to 

 be regarded as the latter theory broadened to the utmost limit. 



Now, in order to help my readers to understand my theory, it is necessary 

 to insist on the law of substance, i. e. the conservation of energy and the 

 indestructibility of matter ; that the universe in its real entity is ever the same 



the same now as in the past and as in the future ; that it is only the 



phenomena which change from time to time ; and that there can be neithar 

 increase nor decrease in its real entity. 



All individuals in the imiverse have closs relations with the whole (i. e. 

 the universe), and their real entities are something like the threads of a net 

 extending in all directions through the universe ; some of the threads being 

 represented by chemical affiuities or physical gravity. To divide the whole 

 into parts is something Hke moving the interwoven threads hither and thither 

 with one's fingers ; for, though the whole is divisible into parts as it seems, 

 these parts are still connected one with another by the threads. Individuals 

 though they be called, they are uot by any means in a condition of isolation, 

 but rather are closely related to the whole. Thus, as a part moves, so moves 

 the whole itself that assemblage of many parts. 



AU individuals aHke possess innumerable genes or factors**. The former 

 present various phenomena according as, on the one hand, the latter are 



* MoBGAN, T. H. — The theory of tlie gene, in Am. Nat. (1917) vol. 51, pp. 513-520. 



** My idea is somewhat comparable to Vinks' opinion that " the nltimate members, root, 



stem, leaf, may in this view be looked iipon as potentially present even in the usiicellular plant, 



jost as man is potentially in the Amoeba ; and their gradual unfolding is but a matter o£ time 



and the realisation of their inherent tendency to complexity, much as we have in the spore or 



the ovum the potentialities which we see realised as it grows into a plant." [Geekn, J. 



E. — A History of Botany, (Oxford 1909) p. 83]. 



