Yale University New Haven, Connecticut 06520

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY

Sterling Chemistry Laboratory
225 Prospect Street

26th January 1970.

Professor Joshua Lederberg,
The Medical School,
Stanford University,
Stanford,

CALIFORNIA.

Dear Professor Lederberg,

Although I have not finally heard from NASA, it now appears clear that my
proposal to look for CO-metabolism on Mars was not accepted. This in
itself neither surprises nor dismays me, since in that proposal I had
stated quite clearly that it was not necessary for myself personally to
be involved in any such experiment. I do feel strongly, however, that a
search for this type of metabolism should be seriously considered. Since
I will not be involved in the mission, I write to appraise you of the
situation in the expectation that you will be similarly interested in see-

*

ANOS;

ing that this idea is not lost.
: Also in the hope of making sure that CO-metabolism will be taken seriously,

I am publishing a brief critique which examines the factors favouring CO-

: rn ‘ : : : a

1) metabolism on primitive planets in general. This publication is similar
in content to my proposal, and includes a reference to your relevant
remarks in a recent issue of Applied Optics.
Sincerely yours ,

Alan 0D

+

Richard Wolfgang.

ATED

peo),

JAN 28 1979

As you probably have heard, the Viking program has been rescheduled to

1975 ; however, I have also just been appointed to the operational tine, tecu
and we have been told to proceed, for the time being, per previous
proposals. This may actually mean that even the 1975 plan is in fiscal
jeopardy.

rw/bg

At any rate: CO is definitely being taken very seriously. However, if

it is introduced as C*O together with C*O, at the ambient ratio and pressures
of CO/CO which is the present proposition (weight limitations making it

hard to Rinn the bird with separate stones ), we are in trouble with calcu-
lated sensitivity to what can be expected from uptake of CO at that level.

If we boost CO, we are "unrealistically" modifyang the environment.

(1) would be useful. . Sincerel
cc: Parad KRaw, Ames Kew. C&,, Team, Lrodey A ae

C