Referee's report by John Bretland Farmer, on a paper 'The dual force of the dividing cell. Part I. The Achromatic Spindle Figure, elucidated by magnetic chains of force' by Marcus Hartog

Description

Sectional Committee: Botany

Recommended for publication in Philosophical Transactions, as it appears to mark a distinct advance in present ideas as to the relations between magnetic, or electrostatic, and karyokinetic phenomena. Although the author does not seem to have made out a conclusive case the experiments are so suggestive publication is warranted, and in full. The word 'Exogen' should be replaced by 'Dicotyledon'. The references to figures require careful checking and several are obviously incorrect. All the illustrations would be required. As a whole the paper deals mainly with formal similarities between magnetic phenomena and the distribution of the achromatic spindles. It contains speculative explanations to account for the physical phenomena but these are confined to physics and do not extend into the region of speculative chemistry. In an appended letter addressed from Claremont House, Wimbledon Common, Farmer would like to suggest that the opinion of a physicist is sought. He does not know any biologist who is competent to express a complete opinion upon the papers merits that would be based on full knowledge of all the subject matter involved.

[Published in Philosophical Transactions B, 1905].

Endorsed on verso as received 19 December 1904.

Reference number

RR/16/190

Earliest possible date

16 December 1904

Physical description

Standardised form (type A)

Page extent

3 pages

Format

Manuscript