f#' 



232 



THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE. 



In each case there exists, at 



will not speak more in 'detail on this subject now, 

 as the particulars would be somewhat too technical. 

 Such a mode of origin of new organic units is closely 

 allied to the process which gives birth to the zoospores 

 of certain Fungi and Algse, or to the reproductive 

 gemmules of Protomyxa. 

 first, formless living matter : only the independent units 

 into which it afterwards divides remain to form a 

 coherent tissue in the one case^ whilst they separate 

 and form independent reproductive units in the other 



instances mentioned. 



A careful consideration of all the facts adduced in 

 the present chapter leads us to the conclusion that 

 Living UnitSj whether reproductive or not^ may ori- 

 ginate by one or other of five principal methods within 

 the bodies of pre-existing organisms: — 



fluid we have good 

 reason to suppose that a living unit may ori- 

 ginate ; and this being so we should have in 

 such case a veritable instance of the 



I 



In a not-living organizable 



of the not-living into the living. 



Life would 



here begin de novo owing to the occurrence of 

 certain new molecular combinations. To this 

 process we propose to apply the name Arche- 



r 



biosis ^ 



\\ 



exist in a fluid or semi-fluid medium some of 



^ From apxq, ' beginning,' and ^160:, ' to live.' 





3 



ce 



5 



the 



inent, 

 this pf 



j-eprc 

 ocess 



Bio 



crasis 



1 



X 



r< 



^ 



of ova in 

 of the spo 

 co-onidial cc 



, Kew units m; 

 tion of pre- 

 known pro 

 again, new 

 existing liv 

 differentiati 

 sion into fc 

 by a method 

 tlie reprodu 



such modes 

 pose to com 



^'* fe, ' life; aod 



, ;' ^' ""gin of in, 



•*^ ^^^ only incide- 



le 



>the 



process 





%re 



new. 



fonued 





