Note 864

Because one believes that the process of self-replication is, at least in one important phase, similar to the process of crystallization (in a certain way this is always true), the above mentioned forces of aggregation may already play a role [in the process of self-replication]. And one may mitigate the consequence from the crystallizing, when one disputes the question whether a maximal aggregation of 2 molecules -- the doubling is the end result of the whole process -- may already be interpreted as a process of crystallization. Taken more precisely, it is, however, so that the truly living substance is simply not crystallizable at all. Things are different in produced proteins [i.e. non-living proteins produced by the living substance]. Compare also functional lateral growth [increasing thickness] of fibrous molecules, skeletal protein, TMV-protein [i.e. a protein of a certain virus, namely tabacco mosaic virus]

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