546 



THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE. 



Of these five ultimate methods, two or more are 



often associated in giving origin to a single new indi- 



vidual, though at times one alone may be instrumental. 



They are all more or less closely related to one another 



and are immediately dependent upon the fundamental 



properties of living matter. Some of the processes are^ 



moreover-j quite similar to those which go on in not-living 



matter. Elements combine, acids and bases combine j 



and similarly, colloidal molecules may unite and undergo 



rearrangements, so as to give origin to units of living 



matter (Archebiosis). Again, as we have previously 



pointed out, Biocrasis is but a further stage of the 



process which occurs in Archebiosis j whilst Bioparadosis 



(or secondary evolution) is also most closely allied to 



the same process. The occurrence of Biocsenosis is 



dependent upon the inherent complexity and mobility 



of the ultimate molecules of living matter • whilst, in 



their actual nature, such processes are strictly comparable 



with the phenomena of allotropism and isomerism as 



r0 





jsiflg 



le mass 



( 



21 



1 



jjiSiB • 



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hat me: 



? Anal 



( 



individuals of 

 ibined with a 

 grow limits, wi 

 coraioted by the 

 Qcli species wa 

 sed to havi 

 fperpstuating i 

 were, thei 



from another b' 

 lave be 



to exist. Now. 



en creat 



received 

 creasin 



as an 



they occur amongst not-living elements and compounds. 



Biodiseresis (or discontinuous growth) is essentially de- • I writings of Mr 



pendent upon a higher manifestation of the same 



property — constituting as it does one of the most 



distinctive characteristics of living matter. 



The simple individuals which arise by any of these 

 various methods may, when their discontinuous growth 

 is rapid — owing to the occurrence of processes of fission 

 or gemmation— give rise to many small and separate 

 individuals. Whilst others, when they do not undergo 



S numb; 



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present d! 



ofthe 





