Departaent of

Medical Genetica

May 10, 1957

Dean John 2. Bowers
University of Wisconsin
Scheel of Medicine

Dear Dean Bowers:

On behalf of the Department of Medical Genetics, I request your
eonsideration of the appointment of Dr. KIMBALL C. ATWOOD te the rank
of Aspociate Prefeaser of Medical Genetics.

Although, in Assistant Professer Morten, the Departasnt can already
boast of a strong shewing in Human Genetics, it is I think generally un-
derstood that our entire progres within the Medical School would be
greatly fertified by having a ataff member who was professimmally quali-
fied in medicine. Unfortunately, M.D.'s whese credentials also include
eolid training end experience in basic genetic research are vanishingly
rare ~— it will, of course, be ene of the important aims of our departaent
to train such students to staff parallel programs throughout the country.
On both counts, Dr. Atwood is eainently, even uniquely, qualified fer the
appointaent recomended hereby.

While Dr. Atwoed's research has been oriented to radiation bielogy, this
is due more te the cirounstances which have kept him at the Oak Ridge
National Leboratery, than to a restriction ef his intereste in thia
particilar area. He has frequently told me, over the years, of his interest
in academic medicine fren the partioular viewpoint of genetics, and I have
ne deubt whatever that his research pregran will be greatly broadened by
his coming te this department. On the other hand, he has made such a
valuable scientific contribution with his recent radicbiolegical studies
that he should bp no means be discouraged from pursuing them further, as
his own judgeent dictates, to their logical cenclusion. These contributions
have ingluded an extremelg skillful methedolegy fer the detection and charac-
terization of genetic lethals in Neurospera heterckaryons, which can lead
to an apportionment of the various modalities of radiation damage to the
cell in a way not appreachable with any other material. He finds that while
moat cell-lethality must be a consequence of damage to muclear targets,
the usually proposed medality of lethal autation accounts for only a mall
part of the effect. There ia a second type of injury, net well understood,
which infiuences the ability ef the whele nucleus to survive and function.

Dr. Atarood's studics have also carried him to a remarkably preoise analysis
of the dynanins of molear interaction in multinucleate or heterokarpotiv
hyphal segments in Neurospora. Finally, be has recently started a novel
IN REX. CG. Atwood — 2

study of seuatic mtetion in men, that is the cocurrence of A- and B-
types of erythrocytes in AB indivhdlieals. ‘These studies promise an unex
pemtedly facile approach to the transfer of fundemental approaches to
hunan material.

Dr, Atwood's influence at Oak Ridge goss far beyond the impact of
his om research. It ie fair to suggest that his isfluence has hed such
to do with the fundamental orientations of the pregran in Biology at the
ORNL which could all too easily fell into the traps of shert-renge pre-
grameing. I an not in a pesition to give a detailed judgnent of his
abilities as a clinician. However, I have been in closes intellectual
contact with him for fifteen years, and I have never doulsted that he
had one of the keenest scientific ainds in the country. I know too that
his interest in medicine is anything bet perfunctory, se that the copper
tunity here should reflect his owm career interests to a remarkable degree.

That is the basis on which we can hope to attract him here. I em aure that
the proposals about to be presented would be quickly matched by any of a mmb@r
of other schoola; his neme has been ectively discussed in cennection with
several of the openings that had been presented to my ow consideration.

I have no doubt myself that hie abilities end reputation would be consistent
with the rank of Professer, but there is no caspslling reason why this
point gano$ be deferred for a year or two.

I therefore propose Dr. Atwood's appcintuent as Associate Professor
of Medical Genetics, effective J 1, 1958 or within a few months
thereafter. I recomend « salary of 39,000 for an acadenio-year appoint-
ment, in view of his om vehement wishes in this respect. The appointaent
should carry an understanding that he ia free to accept remuneration for
work he may vish te do at the Marine Biological Laboratery for 3 sumer
months, to do which he would doubtless make applications for research grants
through that laboratory. There should also be an understanding that his
rank and conditions of employment will be reviewed after two years.

He would be housed, in due courses, in the Departynesés laboratories
in the new Research Wing. Meantime, I em certain that muitable teaporary
facilities can be arranged either in the Biochemistry or Bactertolozy
buildings, where there are temporary vacancies. Falling all else, we
could squeeze together in Genetics Building facilities, but this would
ome se disruption, tolerable only because 1t would be for a specified,

T have also laid before the Department of Geneties the question of
whether they would wish to join in this eppointment om either a courtesy
or a half-time bagis. The matter is under review now. To the best of my
IN RE K.C, ATWOOD —- 3

knowledge

none of my colleagues there vould take the least exception to my own
appreaiation of Dr. Atwood's qualifications. However, the Genetics
Departaent is uncertain as te its own resources with which te back
wuch en appointment, and also as to details of the formal relation-
ships which sheuld pertain begween the twe departments. These ques-
tiens should be reselved without great delay, but it may be inadvisable
te postpone preliminary review ef the propesed appointment in the
medical school.

Yours sincerely,

Josiua Lederberg
Professer of Medical Genetica

P.8. I an enclosing a number of copies of « Curriculum Vitae and
@ partial bibliographic list. Mere copies are readily available.
Kimball C, Atweed

b. New York, No¥. May 15, 1921, A.B. Columbia College 192. M.D. New York
University 196. Intern (surgery), Dellevue Hospital 19):5h7, Research
associate in zoolegy, Columbia University, 1947-1950, Visiting assistant
professor of microbiology, Columbia, 1950e51, Sr. Biclogist, Oak Ri¢ge
Natl. Labo 195l-00,

Some of his principal publications are:

191 Hinton, T, and KCA. Terminal adhesions of salivary gland chromocores
in Drosophila, Proe, Nat. Acad, Sci. 272))91-1:96,

1951 KCA, LK. Schneider and F.J, Ryan. Periodic selection in E, coli,
Proc, Nat. Acad, Sei, 37:1)5—=155,

ib, Selective mechanisms in bacteria, Cold Spring Harbor Symp.
Quant, Biol, 16:35=355,

1949 KCA and A, Norman, On the interpretation of miltiehit survival covves.
roc, Nat, Acad, Sci. 35:696~709,

1953 KCA ard ¥, Mukai, Indispensable gene functions in Neurespora >
Proc, Nat. Acad. Sei. 3921027-1035,

1955 KCA and T.H. Pittenger. The efficiency of mclear mixing during
heterokaryen formation in Neurospora eragsa, Am. J. Bot. 2:h96-5C0,

1956 Pittenger, T.H. and KCA, Stability of melear proportions during gesrth
ef Neurospora heterckaryons, Genetics 122271,

Some of Atuocd’ best and most complex work, on the detection ard honolegy-
capping of lethals, and on the role ef the micleus as the principal tercet
of radiation damage in Neurcspora, has not yet been published in detail,

His current work is on the mechaniem of radiation damage te cellniar
constituents (primarily nuclear) in Neurospora, Drosophila end mice,

He has also initiated a study of somatie mutation during erythropoiesis
in man, ard has obtained preliminary evidence for th occurrence of aarsen:
AO and EO red cells in AB individuals,