At some stage or other we are led by analogy to expect that a
division of nuclei would occur in which the number of chromosomes
would be reduced by one half, that this would be followed by the
formation of gametes, and that the nuclei of the latter would subsequently
fuse in karyogamy.
It is clear that both in the Endosporeae and Exosporeae a mitotic division of nuclei immediately precedes spore-formation. This is regarded by Jahn as a reduction division. If this is the case, the zoospores or the amoebulae must in some way represent the gametes. The fusion of the latter to form plasmodia appears to offer a process comparable with the conjugation of gametes, but though the fusion of the protoplasm of the amoebulae has been often observed no fusion of their nuclei (karyogamy) has been found to accompany it. A fusion of nuclei has indeed been described as occurring in the plasmodium, or at stages in the development of the sporangia or sporophores, but in no case can the evidence be regarded as satisfactory.[1] Until we have clear evidence on this point the nuclear history of the mycetozoa must remain incomplete.
Jahn’s observation of the mitotic division of nuclei preceding spore-formation in Ceratiomyxa gives a fixed point for comparison of the Exosporeae with the Endosporeae. Starting from this division it seems clear that the spore of Ceratiomyxa is comparable with the spore of the Endosporeae except that the nucleus of the former has undergone two mitotic divisions.
Literature.—(1) A. de Bary, “Die Mycetozoen,” Zeitschr. f. wiss. Zool., x. 88 (1860). (2) “Die Mycetozoen,” (2nd ed., Leipzig, 1864). (3) Comparative Morphology and Biology of the Fungi, Mycetozoa and Bacteria, translation (Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1887). (4) O. Bütschli, “Protozoa, Abth. g. Sarcodina,” Bronn’s Thierreich, Bd. i. (5) L. Cienkowski, “Die Pseudogonidien,” Pringsheim’s Jahrbücher, i. 371. (6) “Zur Entwickelungsgeschichte der Myxomyceten,” Pringsheim’s Jahrbücher, iii. 325 (pub. 1862). (7) “Das Plasmodium,” ibid. p. 400 (1863). (8) “Beiträge zur Kenntniss der Monaden,” Arch. f mikr. Anat. i. 203 (1865). (9) J. C. Constantineanu, “Ueber die Entwicklungsbedingungen der Myxomyceten,” Annales mycologici, Vierter Jahrg. (Dec. 1906). (10) A. Famintzin and M. Woronin, “Ueber zwei neue Formen von Schleimpilzen Ceratium hydnoides, A. und Sch., and C. porioides, A. und Sch.,” Mém. de l'acad. imp. d. sciences de St Petersburg, series 7, T. 20, No. 3 (1873). (11) M. Greenwood and E. R. Saunders, “On the Rôle of Acid in Protozoan Digestion,” Jour. of Physiology, xvi. 441 (1894). (12) R. A. Harper, “Cell and Nuclear Division in Fuligo varians,” Botanical Gazette, vol. 30, No. 4, p. 217 (1900). (13) E. Jahn, “Myxomycetenstudien 3. Kernteilung u. Geisselbildung bei den Schwärmern von Stemonitis flaccida, Lister,” Bericht d. deutschen botanischen Gesellschaft, Bd. 22 p. 84 (1904). (14) “Myxomiycetenstudien 6. Kernverschmelzungen und Reduktionsteilungen,” ibid. Bd. 25, p. 23 (1907). (15) W. Saville Kent, “The Myxomycetes or Mycetozoa; Animals or Plants?” Popular Science Review, n.s., v. 97 (1881). (16) H. Kränzlin, “Zur Entwicklungsgeschichte der Sporangien bei den Trichien und Arcyrien,” Arch. f. Protistenkunde, Bd. ix. Heft. 1, p. 170 (1907). (17) A. Lister, “Notes on the Plasmodium of Badhamia utricularis and Brefeldia maxima,” Ann. of Botany, vol. ii. No. 5 (1888). (18) “On the Ingestion of Food Material by the Swarm-Cells of the Mycetozoa,” Journ. Linn. Soc. (Bot.) xxv. 435 (1889). (19) “On the Division of Nuclei in the Mycetozoa,” Journ. Linn. Soc. (Bot.) vol. xxix. (189). (20) “A Monograph of the Mycetozoa,” British Museum Catalogue (London, 1894). (21) “Presidential Address to the British Mycological Society,” Trans. Brit. Mycological Soc. (1906). (22) A. and G. Lister, “Synopsis of the Orders, Genera and Species of Mycetozoa,” Journal of Botany, vol. xlv. (May 1907). (23) E. W. Olive, “Monograph of the Acrasiae,” Proc. Boston Soc. of Nat. History, vol. xxx. No. 6 (1902). (24) “Evidences of Sexual Reproduction in the Slime Moulds,” Science, n.s., xxv. 266 (Feb. 1907). (25) “Cytological Studies in Ceratiomyxa,” Trans. Wisconsin Acad. of Sciences, Arts and Letters, vol. xv., pt. ii. p. 753 (Dec. 1907). (26) E. Pinoy, “Rôle des bactéries dans le développement de certains Myxomycètes,” Ann. de l'institut Pasteur, T. xxi. pp. 622 and 686 (1907). (27) H. Plenge, “Ueber die Verbindungen zwischen Geissel u. Kern bei den Schwärmerzellen d. Mycetozoen,” Verh. d. naturist.-med. Vereins zu Heidelberg, N.F. Bd. vi. Heft 3 (1899). (28) S. von Prowazek, “Kernveränderungen in Myxomycetenplasmodien,” Oesterreich. botan. Zeitschr. Bd. liv. p. 278 (1904). (29) E. Strasburger, “Zur Entwickelungsgeschichte d. Sporangien von Trichia fallax,” Botanische Zeitung (1884). (30) R. Thaxter, “On the Myxobacteriaceae, a new order of Schizomycetes,” Botanical Gazette, xvii. 389 (1892). (31) W. Zopf, “Die Pilzthiere oder Schleimpilze,” Schenk’s Handbuch der Botanik (1887). (J. J. Lr.)
MYCONIUS, FRIEDRICH (1490–1546), Lutheran divine, was
born on the 26th of December 1490, at Lichtenfels on the Main,
of worthy and pious parents, whose family name, Mecum, gave
rise to proud uses of the word as it appears in various places
in the Vulgate, whereas Myconius, from the island Myconus,
was a proverb for meanness. His schooling was in Lichtenfels
and at Annaberg, where he had a memorable encounter with
the Dominican, Tetzel, his point being that indulgences should
be given pauperibus gratis. His teacher, Staffelstein, persuaded
him to enter (July 14, 1510) the Franciscan cloister. That same
night a pictorial dream turned his thoughts towards the
religious standpoint which he subsequently reached as a
Lutheran. From Annaberg he passed to Franciscan communities
at Leipzig and Weimar, where he was ordained priest
(1516); he had endeavoured to satisfy his mind with scholastic
divinity, but next year his “eyes and ears were opened” by
the theses of Luther, whom he met when Luther touched at
Weimar on his way to Augsburg. For six years he preached
his new gospel, under difficulties, in various seats of his order,
lastly at Zwickau, whence he was called to Gotha (Aug. 1524)
by Duke John at the general desire. Here he married Margaret
Jäcken, a lady of good family. He was intimately connected
with the general progress of the reforming movement, and
was especially in the confidence of Luther. Twice he was
entrusted (1528 and 1533) with the ordering of the churches and
schools in Thuringia. In all the religious disputations and
conferences of the time he took a leading part. At the Convention
of Smalkald (1537) he signed the articles on his own
behalf and that of his friend Justus Menius. In 1538 he was in
England, as theologian to the embassy which hoped to induce
Henry VIII. on the basis of the Augsburg Confession, to make
common cause with the Lutheran reformation; a project which
Myconius caustically observed might have prospered on condition
that Henry was allowed to be pope. Next year he was
employed in the cause of the Reformation in Leipzig. Not
the least important part of his permanent work in Gotha was the founding and endowment of its gymnasium. In 1541 his
health was failing, but he lived till the 7th of April 1546. He
had nine children, four of whom were living in 1542.
Though he published a good many tracts and pamphlets, Myconius was not distinguished as a writer. His Historia reformationis, referring especially to Gotha, was not printed till 1715. See Melchior Adam, Vitae theologorum (1706); J. G. Bosseck, F. Myconii Memoriam . . . (1739); C. K. G. Lommatzsch, Narratio de F. Myconio (1825); K. F. Ledderhose, F. Myconius (1854); also in Allgemeine deutsche Biog. (1886); O. Schmidt and G. Kawerau in Hauck’s Realencyklopädie (1903). (A. Go.*)
MYCONIUS, OSWALD (1488–1552), Zwinglian divine, was
born at Lucerne in 1488. His family name was Geisshüsler;
his father was a miller; hence he was also called Molitoris.
The name Myconius seems to have been given him by Erasmus.
From the school at Rottweil, on the Neckar, he went (1510)
to the university of Basel, and became a good classic. From
1514 he obtained schoolmaster posts at Basel, where he married,
and made the acquaintance of Erasmus and of Holbein, the
painter. In 1516 he was called, as schoolmaster, to Zürich,
where (1518) he attached himself to the reforming party of
Zwingli. This led to his being transferred to Lucerne, and
again (1523) reinstated at Zürich. On the death of Zwingli
(1531) he migrated to Basel, and there held the office of town's
preacher, and (till 1541) the chair of New Testament exegesis.
His spirit was comprehensive; in confessional matters he was for a union of all Protestants; though a Zwinglian, his readiness
to compromise with the advocates of consubstantiation gave
him trouble with the Zwinglian stalwarts. He had, however,
a distinguished follower in Theodore Bibliander. He died on
the 14th of October 1552.
Among his several tractates, the most important is De H. Zwinglii vita et obitu (1536), translated into English by Henry Bennet (1561). See Melchior Adam, Vita theologorum (1620); M. Kirchhofer, O. Myconius (1813); K. R. Hagenbach, J. Oekolampad und O. Myconius (1859); F. M. Ledderhose, in Allgemeine deutsche Biog. (1886); B. Riggenbach and Egli, in Hauck’s Realencyklopädie (1903). (A. Go.*)
MYDDELTON (or Middleton), SIR HUGH, Bart. (c. 1560–1631),
contractor of the New River scheme for supplying London
with water, was a younger son of Sir Richard Myddelton,
governor of Denbigh Castle. Hugh became a successful London
- ↑ In the work cited in the last footnote Jahn described a fusion of nuclei as occurring in Ceratiomyxa at the stage at which the plasmodium is emerging to form sporophores. Jahn was at first inclined to regard this union as the sexual karyogamy of the life-cycle, but the writer learns by correspondence (July 1910) that he is inclined to regard this fusion as pathological, and to look for the essential karyogamy elsewhere.
