Respitory proteids : researches in biological chemistry / A.B. Griffiths.

  • Arthur Bower Griffiths
Date:
1897
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Respitory proteids : researches in biological chemistry / A.B. Griffiths. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    tory proteids) the oxygen must enter into an intra-molecular combination with the chloro- phyll, if at all, as the action of reducing agents teaches this fact. Animal chlorophyll has also been found in a diffused state in certain Infusoria, and they appear to have formed it from its elements. Becquerel and Brongniart* extracted a green pigment from the Pliyllia (belonging to the Orthoptera) which has all the properties of plant chlorophyll ; but there are green pigments present in certain insects which have nothing in common with chlorophyll. + The chief function of animal chlorophyll and allied pigments is that of respiration ; hut it is probable that these pigments play an important part in sexual selection, in mimicry, or act as “ screens ” for the protection of underlying cells, for protective purposes. Whatever may be the true function or functions of animal chlorophyll one thing is certain—that the pigment is manu- factured in the body of the animal containing it. In fact “ investigators should pause before they decide that when an animal chlorophyll is met with, it has been eaten by the animal and deposited unchanged in its tissues ; they should * Becquel and Brongniart, Comptes Mencius, tome cxviii. No. 24. t Griffiths, Comptes Mencius, tome cxv. p. 958.