Biological Relations of Seed Proteins. 107 



The results of my work have shown that no two seeds are 

 alike in their protein constituents, and that those proteins which 

 appear to be alike are found only in seeds that are botanically 

 closely related. 



As I have elsewhere pointed out, it would seem that these 

 differences in the reserve food substances of the endosperm must 

 have an important bearing on the character of the developing 

 embryo which derives its first food from them. 



This food substance, and the embryo as well, are the final 

 products of the series of chemical changes which led to their for- 

 mation. When the embryo begins its development it finds at hand 

 a definite food ; which for each individual of the same species is 

 the same, but for the individuals of different species is different. 

 Each member of a species begins its independent life under similar 

 chemical conditions, but under chemical conditions which are dif- 

 ferent from those of every other species. 



When, therefore, each individual plant reaches that stage of 

 development at which its organs of assimilation are able to furnish 

 it with nutriment from its external surroundings, it is highly prob- 

 able that its chemical processes have already been established along 

 definite lines which it must follow throughout the rest of its life. 



63 (319) 



Variation in hydrochloric acid secretion during the digestive 



period. 



NELLIS B. FOSTER and ADRIAN V. S. LAMBERT. 



\_From the Laboratory of Biological Chemistry of Columbia Uni- 

 versity, at the College of Physicians and Surgeons. ] 

 These observations were conducted on dogs having Pawlow 

 double stomachs. After test meals of hashed meat, alone or 

 mixed with crackers and water, it was noted that the percentage of 

 HC1 in the gastric secretion varied somewhat during the digestive 

 period. Estimations of the HC1 were repeatedly made for each 

 hour during the period, by the Volhard method of chlorine determi- 

 nation, after neutralization of the juice with NaOH and careful in- 

 cineration. The total chlorides and the metallic chlorides were de- 

 termined, and the difference between them reckoned as HC1. By 



