THE FACTS AST) FUNCTION OF RFX 31 



teristic of the cells of the species. In the case we arc 

 considering, the mother-germ-cell would contain 

 sixteen chromosomes ; but it undergoes what is 

 now known as a " reducing division," effecting the 

 " reduction of the chromosomes," so that the actual 

 ovum or spermatozoon contains only eight chromo- 

 somes in its nucleus. When the nucleus of the 

 spermatozoon and that of the ovum unite, the 

 eight are added to the eight, and there is formed a 

 new cell whose nucleus contains sixteen chromo- 

 somes again. From this cell arise all the cells of 

 the body of the new individual, and each contains 

 sixteen chromosomes, as did those of the body 

 of its parent. These are observed and veritied 

 facts.^ Thus Huxley was right in his prophecy of 

 1878 : " It is conceivable, and indeed probable, that 

 every part of the adult contains molecules derived 

 both from the male and from the female parent ; 

 and that, regarded as a mass of molecules, the entire 

 organism may be compared to a web, of which the 

 warp is derived from the female and the woof from 

 the male." '' What has since been gained," says 

 Professor E. B. Wilson, " is the knowledge that this 

 web is to be sought in the chromatic substance of 

 the nuclei, and that the centrosome is the weaver 

 at the loom." 



Reasoning upon these facts. Professor Weismann 



^ A wholly new importance has quite lately been conferred upon 

 this subject by the researches of Professor Farmer and Messrs. 

 Walker and Moore. They have made the most important discover}- 

 that the cells of all malignant tumours — cancers and sarcomas — 

 exhibit a mode of division similar to that of raothcr-gorm-cclls. 

 This goes very far to ex-jtlain the peculiar jJrojHirtics of malignant 

 cells, and sets us upon the right line for the complete cxplauat ion 

 of malignant tumours. 



