Published Papers

Molecular Architecture and the Processes of Life. May 28, 1948.

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Title:	Molecular Architecture and the Processes of Life [3 of 15]
Creator:	Pauling, Linus, 1901-
Publisher:	Nature.
Date:	1948-05-28
Subject:	Molecular structure
Description:	Nature, vol. 248. Original typescript.
Type:	Text
Format:	text/plain
Language:	en
Identifier:	jessebootlecture-pg03.jpg
Source:	Master scanned with Epson GT-10000+ flatbed scanner at 600 dpi.
Rights:	http://osulibrary.orst.edu/specialcollections/coll/pauling/dna/copyright.html
Full Text:	MOLECULAR ARCHITECTURE AND THE PROCESSES OF LIFE. The last twenty-five years have seen great -rogress made in our under- standing of the nature of life. This progress 1- Ls been along two lines : first the chemical substances that make up the living body have been isolated, and information has been obtained about their properties and about the work that they do, and second, great insight has been obtained into the structure of the molecules of chemical substances generally, in terms of atoms and electrons, and this understanding of the properties of chemical substane~s in terms of their molecular architecture is now being extended to include the very complicated substances responsible for life. What are the features that are characteristic of a living organism ? As we look about us we see such organisms everywhere-human beings, other animals, plants ; and we know that there are very many forms of life that we do not see so easily, such as the bacteria that do their beneficial work in the soil converting waste organic material into substances that can be used by plants in their growth, and that also, in some cases, work for harmful ends, as -,vlien they produce illnesses, such as pneumonia and typhoid fever. These bacteria, when they, are examined under the microscope, are seen to be far simpler in structure than the larger organisms ; they consist perhaps of a single cell, whereas the larger organisms may consist of many millions o£ cells, with specialized functions, working in co-operation with one another. But we recognize that the bacteria are living : they are able to grow in size, and to reproduce themselves, and they hand on to their progeny the specific characters that they themselves possess. It is these properties that differentiate living matter from non-living matter-the posscs~z; : of specific characters, and the ability to produce progeny, _to which these specific characters are passt-d on. Can we obtain an understanding of these properties ? Do Nve knoNv what the nature of life is ? I believe that we can understand these properties of living matter, and that Nve do know what the nature of life is (aside from consciousness), in terms of molecular architecture, the atomic structure of the molecules that constitute living organisms.