CHAPTER V 



THE FILAMENTOUS INDIVIDUAL 



The Filamentous Individual introduces us to the phenomenon 

 of cellular continuity. 



This type of Individual is the simplest of all Continuously 

 Multicellular Individuals, for in it the component cells are 

 united in single series. It owes its existence to a special 

 continuity-producing factor — one by means of which, we 

 may say, Evolution became possible ; and as a result of 

 the production of cellular continuity there appears the 

 phenomenon of cell-arrest. It has already been suggested 

 that the Discontinuously Multicellular cycle is the key to 

 all higher growth-cycles, and it might further be said that 

 all higher living Individuals represent this cycle modified to 

 a greater or less extent by Continuity and Arrest. And 

 what has evolved cellular continuity from cellular discon- 

 tinuity ? The answer is Environment acting in a special 

 form, and this it is which has not only maintained its results, 

 but also multiplied or intensified them into higher forms of 

 continuity. 



Environment, in its widest interpretation, represents all 

 the different ways in which the Universal Force, one of 

 whose manifestations we take to be Life itself, acts on any 

 given one of its manifestations in Nature. In its relation to 

 growth-cycles it may be regarded as the sum total of all 

 the force influences playing on a living entity which issue 

 from all things living or dead surrounding it, or from all 

 sources whatsoever outside of the entity. 



Environment, as it directly affects an organism, may 

 be suitable or unsuitable, healthy or unhealthy, friendly 

 or hostile ; and it may be stated as a general truth that 

 unsuitable environment makes for discontinuity and suitable 

 environment for continuity : this is not in any way surprising, 



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