INSECTS 



forms a body, or soma, the so-called parent. Both the 

 body, or somatic, cells and the germ cells are formed from a 

 single primary cell, which, of course, is usually produced 

 by the union of two incomplete germ cells, a spermatozoon 

 and an egg. The primary germ cell divides, the daughter 

 cells divide, the cells of this division again divide, and the 

 division continues indefinitely until a mass of cells is pro- 

 duced. At a very early stage of division, however, two 

 groups of cells are set apart, one representing the germ 

 cells, the other the somatic cells. The former refrain from 

 further development at this time; the latter proceed to 

 build up the body of the parent. The relation of the 

 somatic cells to the germ cells may be represented diagram- 

 matically as in Figure 62, except that the usual dual par- 

 entage and the union of germ cells is not expressed. The 

 sexual form of reproduction is not necessary with all lower 

 animals, nor with all generations of plants; in some insects 

 the eggs can develop without fertilization. 



The fully-developed mass of somatic cells, whose real 

 function is that of a servant to the germ cells, has assumed 

 such an importance, as public servants are prone to do, 

 that we ordinarily think of it, the body, the active sentient 

 animal, as the essential thing. This attitude on our part 

 is natural, for we, ourselves, are highly organized masses 

 of somatic cells. From a cosmic standpoint, however, no 

 creature is important. Species of animals and plants exist 

 because they have found ways and means of living that 

 have allowed them to survive, but the physical universe 

 cares nothing about them — the sunshine is not made for 

 them, the winds are not tempered to suit their conven- 

 ience. Life must accept what it finds and make the best 

 of it, and the question of how best to further its own wel- 

 fare is the problem that confronts every species. 



The sciences of anatomy and physiology are a study of 

 the methods by which the soma, or body, has contrived to 

 meet the requirements imposed upon it by the unchanging 

 laws of the physical universe. The methods adopted are as 



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