AbstractsBiology & Animal Science

Metabolism of the isolated surviving guinea pig heart.

by Eldred. J. Davis




Institution: McGill University
Department: Department of Chemistry.
Degree: PhD
Year: 1963
Keywords: Biochemistry.
Record ID: 1559140
Full text PDF: http://digitool.library.mcgill.ca/thesisfile115080.pdf


Abstract

The principle of natural selection was applied by Darwin to the individual organ as well as to the organism. Each organ may be considered the result of selections through perhaps many millions of generations, arriving at its present level of development and specialization primarily by way of natural selection. The mammalian heart is a striking example of an organ which has evolved to do a specific task with a high degree of efficiency. The primary function of the heart is that of pumping fluid nutritive material to the organism. As this enormous task must be performed continuously throughout the life of the organism, it would be expected that such a function would require a highly versatile and specialized organ.