All Protoplasm Composed of Pangens 197 



the simpler one ; for the first requires, for every function, 

 two kinds of units, which multiply by growth and divi- 

 sion, and which must stand in such mutual relationship 

 that the units in the chromatophore can function only 

 in the manner prescribed by the respective pangens in 

 the nucleus. 



Precisely the same argument can also be used for the 

 other characters of the chromatophores, and for the other 

 organs of the protoplasts, in a word, for all hereditary 

 characters. 



Let us consider the question from the standpoint of 

 the theory of descent. In the first, as yet non-nucleated 

 organisms, we must also, as a matter of course, regard 

 the individual characters as being connected with pangens. 

 But here the latter must evidently lie in the protoplasm. 

 And. as soon as differentiation advanced so far that not all 

 qualities had to be active at the same time, active and 

 latent pangens must in these simple protoplasts, have 

 lain side by side and intermingled. According to age and 

 external circumstances, at one time some, at another 

 time other pangens would enter into activity. Here it 

 would be quite superfluous to assume, for each function, 

 two kinds of units, on the one hand latent pangens, 

 merely having charge of heredity, and on the other 

 hand, particles which might express the latent characters. 

 The assumption that the same pangens can be either ac- 

 tive or latent according to circumstances, is evidently 

 much simpler for these lower organisms. 



It can hardly be doubted that protoplasm consists of 

 most minute particles which are able to multiply independ- 

 ently. This is indeed the real attribute of life. And it 

 also seems to me clear that we should regard only these 

 particles as life-units, and everything else, such as pro- 



