"Edmond Hamilton - Devolution" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hamilton Edmond)

by the fact that no such things rise spontaneously now from inert matter. Their origin is still a comple
mystery. But, however they came into existence on earth, they were the first of life, our distant ancest
Woodin's eyes were dreaming, the other two forgotten, as he stared into the fire, seeing visions.
"What a glorious saga it is, that wonderful climb up from crude protoplasm creatures to a man! A
marvelous series of changes that has brought us from that first low form to our present splendor.
"And it might not have occurred on any other world but earth! For science is now almost sure tha
cause of evolutionary mutations is the radiations of the radioactive deposits inside the earth, acting u
the genes of all living matter."
He caught a glimpse of Ross's uncomprehending face, and despite his raptness smiled a little.
"I can see that means nothing to you. I'll try to explain. The germ-cell of every living thing on ear
contains in it a certain number of small, rod-like things which are called chromosomes. These
chromosomes are made up of strings of tiny particles which we call genes. And each of these genes h
potent and different controlling effect upon the development of the creature that grows from that
germ-cell.
"Some of these genes control the creature's color, some control his size, some the shape of his lim
and so on. Every characteristic of the creature that grows from that germ-cell will be greatly different
the fellow-creatures of its species. He will be, in fact, of an entirely new species. That is the way in wh
new species come into existence on earth, the method of evolutionary change.
"Biologists have known this for some time and they have been searching for the cause of these
sudden great changes, these mutations, as they are called. They have tried to find out what it is that
affects the genes so radically. They have found exper-imentally that X-rays and chemical rays of vario
kinds, when turned upon the genes of a germ-cell, will change them greatly. And the creatur
that grows from that germ-cell will thus be a greatly changed creature, a mutant.
"Because of this, many biologists now believe that the radiation from the radi-oactive
deposits inside earth, acting upon all the genes of every living thing on earth, is what ca
the constant change of species, the procession of mutations, that has brought life up the
evolutionary road to its present height.
"That is why I say that on any other world but earth, evolutionary progress might nev
have happened. For it may be that no other world has similar radioactive deposits within
to cause by gene-effect the mutations. On any other world, the first protoplasmic things t
began life might have remained forever the same, down through endless generations.
"How thankful we ought to be that it was not so on earth! That mutation after mutatio
has followed, life ever changing and progressing into new and higher species, until the f
crude protoplasm things have advanced through countless changing forms into the supre
achievement of man!"

Woodin's enthusiasm had carried him away as he talked, but now he stopped, laughi
a little as he relit his pipe.
"Sorry that I lectured you like a college freshman, Ross. But that's my chief subject of
thought, my idee fixe, that wonderful upward climb of life through the ages."
Ross was staring thoughtfully into the fire. "It does seem wonderful the way you tell
One species changing into another, going higher all the time-"
Gray stood up by the fire and stretched. "Well, you two can wonder over it, but this
crass materialist is going to emulate his remote invertebrate ancestors and return to a
prostrate position. In other words, I'm going to bed."
He looked at Ross, a doubtful grin on his young blond face, and said, "No hard feelin
now, feller?"
"Forget it." The aviator grinned back. "The paddling was hard today and you fellows
look mighty skeptical. But you'll see! Tomorrow we'll be at the fork of the Little Whale a
then I'll bet we won't scout an hour before we run across those jelly-creatures."