The Washington times., 1928-02-13
Mystery Of Life
Explained By
Scientist
BY George "A. Dorsey,
Phi. D., L. L. D.
Chapter I

"E know Of only three kinds
w of living beings: bacteria,
plants, animals. All living beings
have a physical body or structure
made up of a few Of the more
common chemical elements. This
body is called protoplasm, the
stuff of all living things. Living
protoplasm occurs only in units
called cells. Every living being
is or has been a cell. Cells are
always small and generally can
not be seen except under the
microscope.
Many animals consist Of just
! one cell, and hence are called
unicelluIar organisms. Yet that
cell suffices for them to live;
they eat, they excrete, they grow,
they multiply; they obey all the
laws of living organisms. For
living purposes they are complete.
Higher animals have bodies of
many cells, and are called
Metazoa to distinguish them from
the Protocols, or unicellular anil
mails.
We are animals and belong to
the Metazoa group. Our body
consists of about twenty-six
billion cells. Each is alive and
must be nourished or it dies.
The cells which make up our
body are of different forms and
shapes and, except the free float.
Ing cells carried by the blood, are
united into different kinds of
tissue to form the organs and
systems OF our body. But a
section cut anywhere from the
bodyform bone, muscle, eye.
tongue, skin, heart-would under
the miscroscope be seen to con-
sist OF tiny cells, each a complete
unit Of protop1asm.
Our body begins its individual
growth and development as one
cell. the germ-celI or fortified
Ovum (eggl. BY fertilization, the
ovurn, and old cell, is stimulated
to begin a new life; It is made
young again.. Being rejuvenated,
It can grow, and grow old.
The germ cells female, or ova;
male, or spermia) are readily
distingnishable under the micro
scope Ova are much larger and
less active than spermia. The
latter are very active and propel
themselves by a whiplash tail.
Both are complete living organ
ts1ns and In their combined bodies
carry immortality. In general
feature, size, structure, ETC.,
human germ cells closely re-
senlble those OF other mammals.
The human ovum was first dis.
covered in 1927. Although it is
the largest of the cells of the
body. $4,000 could be mailed
across the continent for a 2-cent
stamp; 100 could ride on an inch
long spider web.
In both sexes, the germ. cells
mature normally only from the
beginning Of puberty. The ova
develop in little pockets or fol-
lic1es of the ovaries. There are
about 10000 follicles at birth. BY
the eighth year there are less
than 10000; of these only about
200 develop into true Graafian
follicles. One of these, containing
a. single ovum, natures each
lunar month of life between
puberty and the menopause. 1t
escapes through the ruptured
wall of the ovary and enters the
Fallopian tube. For each mature
ovum thus released each lunar
month. the male develops about
$50 900 100000 spermia.
One spernium only enters into
the body of the nnatured ovum,
leaving its tail outside. The ovum
is now fortified. 1t divides into
two cells: these two divide and
become four, etc. In nine months,
one fortified ovum has grown
5 100000 per cent and increased in
volume one billion times; by ma
turity it will have increased in
volume fifteen billion times.
After the fortified ovum has
by division become many thou
sands, certain cells under the