\6 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. [3D See., 



ciates in the cell; and that they are always minutely organ- 

 ized in the same manner ; — then, I think, we cannot help but 

 conclude that the centrosome is something other than a 

 larger microsome situated at the junction of the rays of the 

 attraction spheres, in which these rays are inserted, and 

 whose temporary function is to direct the chromosomes 

 and in other ways accomplish caryokinesis. 



I hold, therefore, that the archosome, with its spheres and 

 centrosomes, is not a temporary organ of the cell, but is a 

 most important vital center, capable, under favorable con- 

 ditions and when clothed with certain cytoplasmic envelopes, 

 of growth, assimilation of food, and of movement — in fact, 

 existing as an independent element of the blood. 



Connected with this question is another of no less inter- 

 est — the theory of symbiosis, of which Watase is now 

 a well known champion. Is the nucleus an organ in the 

 cell, or is it an independent organism — a messmate, so to 

 say — which has associated itself with the balance of the cell 

 for mutual benefit — in symbiosis? Watase has done full jus- 

 tice to this theory which in many respects is a most plaus- 

 ible one, and is according to my views most probable. I 

 can do no better than to refer to his admirable lecture upon 

 this subject. But strange to say, Watase, who has so ar- 

 dently advocated a symbiosis of the nucleus with the cell, 

 has also as eagerly endeavored to destroy the very founda- 

 tion upon which this theory must rest. Referring to his 

 paper upon the independence of the centrosome, we find 

 that he has used every argument to show that the centro- 

 some is merely a large microsome, a variable organ in the 

 cell. Now it can be shown, as I believe I have demon- 

 strated, that the centrosome, with the archoplasmic spheres, 

 is something much more than an organ in the cell, that 

 it constitutes in reality the most vital part in the cell, the 

 surviving center of energy after the connection with the 

 nucleus has been dissolved. Is not this fact an additional 

 support to the theory of symbiosis, a symbiosis not strictly 

 between the nucleus and the cell, but between the nucleus 

 and the archosome, or microcentrum? If we should extend 



