126 THE ORIGIN OF LIFE 



to the unequal emission of positive and negative 

 electricity, whilst it remains fixed. The growth of the 

 aggregate would then depend upon the length of time 

 during which the electrified and self-electrifying atom 

 has been in contact with the medium. When the 

 atom ceases to be radio-active, this growth would stop 

 and the nucleus losing its charge, the aggregate would 

 begin to disintegrate. The power of the nucleus 

 in bringing about this cyclically changing aggregate 

 would thus depend on the difference in the number 

 of positively and negatively charged rays emitted. 

 The more intense the radiation and the less the 

 difference between these two emissions the shorter the 

 life period, and the smaller in size would the aggre- 

 gates be, because of the transformation which is 

 taking place in the nucleus itself. 



The construction of an artificial cell which should 

 behave as if it were alive would thus be possible. 

 As the a-rays are not penetrating they would be 

 stopped by the gelatin, and a shell of positively 

 electrified matter would thus be formed round the 

 central atom, serving as the boundary of the nucleus. 

 The subdivision may be started by some such process 

 as Sir William Eamsay has depicted, but within the 

 nucleus itself and of such a nature as to force the 

 division of the cell by subdividing the nucleus : 

 since the newly formed parts will act as a rival, as it 

 were, of the parent nucleus and thus tend to start on 

 its own by breaking up the cell and taking some of 

 the material with it. 



A cell so formed would be highly sensitive to elec- 



