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Di L. SOÓS 
consisting of fine grannies. These threads become later sharper and 
more definite, and transform themselves into loops. In the nest stage 
they arrange themselves in pairs, parallel to one another, and group 
in the part of the nucleus directed toward the nebenkern. They later 
unite side-to-side, and remain for a time in this condition, but soon 
open out and become scattered through the nucleus. After scattering, the 
chromosomes shorten and become rod-shaped, and then they represent 
the definite chromosomes. 
Ancel’s statements are for the most part correct, but I consider 
as erroneous his opinion referring to the side-to-side conjugation of 
the chromatin threads. I shall discuss this question later. Similarly I must 
regard as incorrect this part of his statements, according to which the 
opened loops immediately transform themselves into definite chromo¬ 
somes. After synapis, as seen above, the chromatin forms a reticulum 
which is very similar to that of the «resting nucleus», and the definite 
chromosomes originate from the granules of this reticulum. 
Prowazek (98), as appears, has not had the opportunity of obser¬ 
ving the division of the spermatogonia, though he mentions their divi¬ 
sion, but it is evident both from his description and figures, that he 
regarded the young spermatocytes as spermatogonia. According to him 
the chromatin of the spermatocytes first becomes distributed through¬ 
out the linin threads, then masses on several points of it, and at last 
transforms itself into 24 masses which are at the beginning connected 
by achromatic threads. In the next stage the irregular masses lengthen, 
and become rod-shaped bodies consisting of granules. Later the rods 
split, and thus from the 24 chromatin bodies 48 are formed. The 
48 bodies finally coalesce into 12, and thus originate 12 tetrades which 
number is equal to the reduced number of the chromosomes. This 
process is — according to him — a pseudoreduction in Bückert’s sense. 
From Prowazek’s statements I must regard as undoubtedly incor¬ 
rect the part in the sense of which the chromatin forms tetrads. There 
can occur also the fact that a chromosome may appearently consist of 
two parallel rods, or four tetrad-like arranged bodies, but such chromo¬ 
somes do not represent definite chromosomes, but only an intermediate 
stage in the forming of the chromosomes from the chromomeres. 
Tschassownikow’s (120) observations are very defective. He has 
observed the division of the spermatocytes only from the period succeed¬ 
ing the synapsis, and does not mention the former stages at all. 
