Respiration in the Non-Nucleated Cell. 



It haa been suggested (Loeb, 1-^05) that the nucleus 

 is the organ of oxidation of the living cell; and that 

 peculiarities of the non-nucleated cell, such as lack of 

 the pov/er to synthesize or to regenerate lost parts, are 

 the result of a lowered oxidative activity. The non- 

 nucleated pieces, it is said, "die slowly from asphyxia." 



If this theory is true, we should expect to find a 

 marked difference between the effect of depriving the 

 non-nucleated cell of oxygen, md the effect of depriving 

 the nucleated cell of oxygen. V/e should expect the cell 

 in which oxidations were occurring most rapidly to be 

 most affected by its removal, whereas the cell which was 

 using very little oxygen should not be gre'itly affected. 

 According to Child (1P15), regions in which respiration 

 is rapid are more susceptible to lack of oxygen, and die 

 sooner than regions in which respiration is slower. 



The effect of depriving the nucleated and non- nucle- 

 ated cells of oxygen v/as investigated in the following 

 manner: Five or more amebas were divided into two pieces 

 of as nearly equal size as possible. After leaving them 

 for a longer or shorter period in air, they were placed 



(4G) 



