ON THE INTERPRETATION OF RATES OF REGENERATION IN TUBULARIA, AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF MASS AND TIME

Abstract

1. Data are presented which show that various agents produce differential effects on the length of the regenerating primordium of a Tubularia hydranth and on the time to the constriction of the primordium from the rest of the stem. 2. The significance of this independence of length and time for the L/t formulation of regeneration rate is discussed. 3. The differential effects are interpreted in terms of a reaction approaching a steady state in an open system. 4. The criticisms of the L/t definition and the proposed substitution of 1/t are discussed in terms of the above analysis. It is concluded that the L/t definition, if supplemented by a further analysis of the independent behavior of L and 1/t, provides a useful and informative measurement of regeneration.