FEB 15 1965

CITY OF HOPE MEDICAL CENTER
DUARTE, CALIFORNIA

DEPARTMENT OF PATHOLOGY

February 12, 1965

Dr J. Lederberg

Department of Genetics
Stanford School of Medicine
Palo Alto, California,

Dear Doctor Lederberg:

Your talk to the Genetics Club Meeting at
Carmel provoked throughful reaction needed and welcome
among those involved in contemporary medical-biological
sciences, There is no need to amplify the commentary on
the place of genetics in medical school teaching, Although
many schools lack the comprehensive approach as you de-
scribed takes place at Stanford, the pressure of scientific
events will eventually prevail,

It is to your second topic that some special
address may be taken, Whether or not the future of man will
or can be usefully modified by "genetic banks” or "vege-
tative reproduction’, the public needs to become aware of
biology's potential in this respect, In view of current
attempts at control of population, the concern for maintain-
ing peace and the close approximation 6f formerly isolated
and segregated societies one may correctly assess the situ-
ation as critical,

Because of the crucial situation at the close
of World War II, scientists, some of whom had been involved
with the creation of the A-bomb, formed the Federation of
American Scientists, This organization acted to disseminate
information among scientists about Federal actions bearing
on their concern -. the uses of atomic power, It also provided
an informal liaison between scientists and legislators which
was vigorous and productive. The Bulletin of Atomic Scientist
was also begun, This open forum linked the public with
scientific thought on the problems of arms control, fallout,etc,
There cannot be an overestimate on the
benefit of the FAS and BAS, whose activities you know
better than I, This reminder is in response to your
question of what to do about educating the public, The
scientific community needs to be informed of governmental
intent in fields of population control, etc. And, there
desperately needs to be an open forum to which the layman
can turn for reliable information and the existing range
of expert opinion on topics which may affect his future
and his immediate political decisions, A similar maga-
Zine might be started.

No doubt you have ideas of more effective
action in this direction. Hopefully they will not lie
dormant even until the next club meeting. The unique
combination of knowledge and teaching ability which you
possess, makes it logical that you effect a beginning.
After all, you started the discussion!

Sincerely

RY Teplitz, M. ay
RLT/ed Cytogenetics Divisio