MAY i 1 1970

MAYO CLINIC
ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA
55901

TELEPHONE 282-2511

R,E.RITTS,JIR., M.D, CHAIRMAN AREA CODE 507
A.G,KARLSON,DO.V.M.,PH,D,

E,C.HERRMANN,JR,,PH,D, DEPARTMENT OF

HAROLD MARKOWITZ,PH,D.,M,D, MICROBIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY

FREDERIC G,McDUFFIE,M.D.

GERALD J.GLEICH,M,D,

VOHN A.WASHINGTON,1,M.D,

C.TERRENCE DOLAN,M.D, May 8, 1970

WILLIAM J, MARTIN, PH,O,

Dr. Joshua Lederberg
Department of Genetics
Stanford University

Medical School

Palo Alto, California 94304

Dear Doctor Lederberg:

I have for sometime, perhaps well over a decade and a half, been interested
not so much in the principle of basic research but its practice. So far I have been
unable to get Science to publish my letters indicating that scientists are hiding
behind the unassailable principle of basic research. It is my contention that most
scientists are not really competent to make worthwhile contributions in basic research
but content themselves with ego satisfactions while mimicking their intellectual
superiors with reduntant, trivial efforts producing papers by the ton.

Early in my career I rejected what is narrowly called basic research to try
and do something worthwhile for humanity. I really never have gotten over such
juvenile ideals. I think I have made some contributions as a pioneer in antiviral
drugs and the diagnosis of viral disease, I find little help from the basic researcher,
however. In some respects your enclosed article has confirmed what I have always
believed, basic research as practiced is a religion to be worshiped and never ques-
tioned, it is an icon with rigid dogma and the rewards are great for those that genu-
flect before it.

Apparently you do not see any incongruity in your enclosed article. My notes
are an attempt to show that your position on one page is that infectious disease has
been most influenced by environmental engineering. Your contention on the second
page, however, is that viral diseases will be controlled by pursuit of studies on
their biochemistry and genetics. Apparently you feel history does not in fact repeat
itself.

I have also enclosed an obscure article, of a number of apparently obscure
articles I have written, that might suggest an alternative approach to viral disease
than the profound studies of the biochemistry and genetics of viruses. Perhaps hav-
ing read this you can then inform me of the impact of microbial biochemistry and
microbial genetics on the betterment of mankind, I would use as a criteria, for
your list of contributions, whether their original discovery could in fact find its
way into any of our present day prestigious journals.

After only a short twenty years at the bench I am haunted by the impression
that a significant proportion of our basic scientists are anti-humanistic, irrespon-
Dr. Joshua Lederberg ~2- May 8, 1970

sible, ego centric, basic science worshipers, For them and all of us, time is
running out, as Platt (Science, November 28, 1969) has so well stated. If you
have any reassuring comments about the future practice of basic research in-
fluencing human destiny, I would be most pleased to hear them,

Sincerely yours,
Ernest C,. Herrmann, Jr.

ECH/dd

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