THE ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY

1230 YORK AVENUE NEW YORK, NY 10021

September 8, 1988

 

JOSHUA LEDERBERG

PRESIDENT

Dr. med. Reimar Hartge L
Wiesenstr. 77 eT

D-3000 Hannover 1

West Germany

Dear Dr. Hartge:

I-thank you for your letter of August 8th which was await-
ing my recent return from vacation travel.

You have asked me for references describing the historical
roots of the concepts of genetic engineering. My published re-
marks on this subject date from the early 1960s including the
quotation that you referred to as a "famous statement" about
180 cms. of DNA. This in fact did come from one of my earliest
writings on the subject, namely at a Ciba Symposium in London
in 1962. My most extensive discussion of the possibilities
and ethical, as well as scientific, challenges of genetic
engineering appeared in 1972. I really have had very little
to add to that statement and have endeavored to let others
contribute to the debate since that time. I hope that the in-
terview as published by Die Zeit came out in print consistent
with what I said and with what I have written earlier.

I hope this meets your needs as stated in your letter.
With best wishes,

You sincerely,

   
  

Joshua Lederberg