Morgan's discussion of his "biocule" conception (see also: half-alive theory), which he conceptualizes as the first "biological molecule" in possession of the quantity of "life", which he says has different rules, namely the "rules of life", as he calls them, than those of regular molecules and atoms. [1]

“On the assumption that all are in accordance with nature, and that they stand in order of evolutionary genesis, it follows that, at some stage of evolution a, there were atoms only; at stage b, molecules (and atoms) only. Not until stage c was reached were there living units (may one say ‘biocules’?) in biochemical relationship. Here we come into touch with the hypothesis, the fullest knowledge of the nature and properties of the atomic world at stage a would not enable the most for-sighted atomic logician, so to speak, to deduce and foretell the nature and properties of the molecules at stage b; nor would the fullest knowledge of molecules at this stage of evolution enable the molecular logician to predict the distinctive character of ‘biocules’ at stage c, that is before any ‘biocule’ had come into existence.”

“Let us provisionally arrange ‘natural entities’ in ascending order in an emergent hierarchy. Such a suit may be: atom, molecule, colloidal unit, ‘biocule’, cell, multicellular organism, community of such organisms. Here ‘biocule’ stands for a hypothetical link in the chain.”