Cytoplasmic Diseases and Cancer

Abstract

A theory of cancer is proposed relating viruses, pathogenic mitochondria (plastids) and hypothetical cancer-inducing mitochondria. Cancer-inducing viruses should exist at one end of a "cancer-spectrum" and localized cancer-inducing mitochondria at the other. All viruses are not necessarily of mitochondrial origin but known cytoplasmic particulates can become pathogenic and can be connected with viruses by gradual steps in a spectrum of variegation. There probably exist nuclear and mitochondrial hereditary systems but no diffuse cytoplasmic hereditary system.