THE BREATH OF LIFE 



reproduction, spontaneous and amceboid movement, 

 osmotic pressure, karyokinesis, etc., were equally 

 apparent in the non-living; therefore he concluded 

 that life is only one of the many chemical reactions, 

 and that it is not improbable that it will yet be pro- 

 duced by chemical synthesis in the laboratory. The 

 logic of the position taken by Professor Schafer 

 and of the school to which he belongs, demands this 

 artificial production of life — an achievement that 

 seems no nearer than it did a half -century ago. 

 When it has been attained, the problem will be sim- 

 plified, but the mystery of life will by no means have 

 been cleared up. One follows these later biochem- 

 ists in working out their problem of the genesis of 

 life with keen interest, but always with a feeling 

 that there is more in their conclusions than is justi- 

 fied by their premises. For my own part, I am 

 convinced that whatever is, is natural, but to obtain 

 life I feel the need of something of a different order 

 from the force that evokes the spark from the flint 

 and the steel, or brings about the reaction of chem- 

 ical compounds. If asked to explain what this some- 

 thing is that is characteristic of living matter, I 

 should say intelligence. 



The new school of biologists start with matter 

 that possesses extraordinary properties — with 

 matter that seems inspired with the desire for life, 

 and behaving in a way that it never will behave in 

 the laboratory. They begin with the earth's surface 



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