These experiments sufficiently demonstrate that non-nucleated pieces are
unable to regenerate. If we attempt to examine further into the meaning
of the phenomenon, we find a few things that appear to have a bearing on
the result. The behavior of the non-nucleated pieces shows that the
metabolism of the cell has been changed after the removal of the
nucleus. In some cases the protoplasm is not able to carry out the
process of digestion of the included food substances. This process may
be due to some interchange that goes on between the nucleus and the
protoplasm, which is stopped by the removal of the nucleus, and, in
consequence, the metabolism of the cell is changed. The lack of
regenerative power may be due to this change in the metabolism. It
cannot be claimed, however, that the result is due to a lack of energy
in the pieces, for the incessant motion of the cilia in some kinds of
pieces, that goes on for several days, shows that a large store of
energy is present. Unfortunately, we do not know enough of the relation
that subsists between the nucleus and the protoplasm to be able to state
to what the lack of regenerative power is due.
Loeb (’99) has suggested that the lack of power of non-nucleated pieces
may be due to a lack of oxidation. The nucleus contains substances
which, according to Spitzer, are favorable to the process of oxidation.
When the nucleus is removed, the oxidation is supposed by Loeb to be too
low to allow the process of regeneration to take place. In support of
this view, he points out that while non-nucleated pieces of infusoria
live for only two or three days, non-nucleated pieces of plants
containing chlorophyl may be kept alive for five or six weeks.
Non-nucleated pieces containing chlorophyl can obtain a supply of
oxygen, owing to the breaking down of carbon dioxide in the
chlorophyl-bodies, and the consequent setting free of oxygen. It should
be pointed out, on the other hand, as opposed to Loeb’s view, that
non-nucleated pieces of amœba have been kept alive for fourteen days;
and that despite the better oxidation that may take place in
non-nucleated pieces of plants, regeneration does not take place.
It has been found that non-nucleated pieces of the egg of the sea-urchin
do not segment or develop, and the result is the same whether the pieces
come from fertilized or unfertilized eggs. If, however, a spermatozoon
enters one of these pieces, the piece will segment, and, as Boveri and
later Wilson have shown, it will produce an embryo.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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