116 
The Queensland Naturalist April, 1936. 
IRON AS THE BASIS OF LIFE. 
Mr. W. D. Francis, Assistant Government Botanist. 
Brisbane, continues his work on the above subject, his 
latest and fifth paper being entitled “Iron as the Original 
Basis of Protoplasm: The Generation of Life in Space 
and Time/" The author is to be congratulated on his 
scientific keenness and boldness in publishing this series 
of papers at his own expense, only the first two having 
appeared in the Proceedings of the Royal Society of 
Queensland. Several of the conclusions arrived at in the 
present paper follow logically on statements and indica- 
tions contained in the fourth contribution. 
As a result of microscopic observations, microchemi- 
cal tests and photomicrographs of protoplasmic struc- 
tures it is shown, remarks the author, that there are 
numerous similarities in the minute structure of proto- 
plasm and the iron hydroxides. It is concluded that iron 
is the original basis of protoplasm. The fundamental 
factors in the origin of the iron bacterium Leptothrix 
from inorganic material are (1) the arrangement of iron 
atoms in ferrous hydroxide, (2) the processes of aggrega- 
tion and crystallisation of ferrous hydroxide, (3) the 
chemical affinities of ferrous hydroxide for the groups of 
<*lements containing the protein elements, and (4) the 
ability of ferrous hydroxide to function in oxidation-re- 
duction processes. These four fundamental factors are 
also the fundamental factors in the generation of life. 
The generation of life is a process which functions in 
many different parts of the tropical and temperate zones 
of the earth at present. 
In conclusion, the author makes a strong appeal for 
serious work to be carried out on the generation of life, 
which he regards as an urgent necessity if we are ever to 
elucidate the causes of the diseases and disabilities to 
which animals and plants are subjected. This journal 
wishes Mr. Francis success in his investigations. — Ed. 
