EXPERIMENTAL TRANSFORMATIONS OF BIPOLAR FORMS IN CORYMORPHA PALMA

¹ HULL ZOÖLOGICAL LABORATORY, THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

1. Bipolar forms resulting from reconstitution of stem pieces of Corymorpha palma can be transformed into bipolar-unipolar forms by subjection to inhibiting conditions for various lengths of time. The transformation consists of development of a basal end from the lateral stem region between the hydranths.

2. The development of the base may result from the action of the inhibiting agent in lowering the physiological level of the region concerned to the level at which base development is initiated and the more intimate and continuous-contact with the bottom in consequence of decreased motor activity under inhibiting conditions may act in the same direction and contribute to the result.

3. Bipolar forms may become unipolar by the death of the parts representing one axis because of higher susceptibility. In such cases extensive reorganization along the persisting axis occurs.

4. It is believed that inhibiting conditions may bring about transformation of bipolar into unipolar forms by obliteration of the two original polarities through differential susceptibility and the determination of a single new polarity by the differential of position.