408 



ORGANIC GROWTH 



SEC. VIII 



in a definite form presupposes, namely, that by the inheritance 

 of acquired characters there is established in every developing 

 and every adult organism a relation of the particles to one 

 another, which finds its expression in their striving to form 

 themselves into the whole, and to maintain or re-establish the 

 co-ordinated whole ; and further, that the higher the degree to 

 which division of labour is developed, so much the more are 

 special growth-tendencies developed in the several parts. 



Another consideration which I must emphasise on account 

 of its importance to the above view and to my whole theory 

 of the organic growth of the living world is this : that the 

 renewal of the cells of the body which goes on constantly 

 throughout life, that is, the division of the cells, depends on 

 the same processes which accompany the division of the 

 original egg-cell, and which take place during the whole of 

 development. This continued multiplication or recrescence 

 of cells in the adult body thus appears as in some sense an 

 after-effect of fertilisation, as a continuation of the process of 

 growth which constitutes the development of the organism. 

 Thus the whole metamorphosis of organisms, their whole 

 life, depends upon the acquisition and inheritance of 

 properties, and on the growth thereby determined. If the 

 capacity for this ceases the organism dies. 



