The Nature of Growths in Colloidal Silica Solutions

Abstract

DR. BASTIAN has described certain experiments in this journal¹ in which he claimed to have synthesized from sterile colloidal solutions living bodies which were capable of reproducing themselves. Considerable weight is lent to Dr. Bastian's demand for independent investigation by the undeniable fact, that since the earth cooled, life has already once been synthesised from its inorganic constituents. In spite, therefore, of the inherent improbability of Dr. Bastian's results, I decided to repeat his experiments. Since the best criterion of life is the ability of organisms to reproduce themselves in sterile media, this test was employed throughout; and it is hoped that the resulting experiments, taken in conjunction with recent work in the same field², may help to decide whether these “organisms” are in reality alive or merely colloidal simulacra.