53372

TP .
It was, on motion, UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN -
RESOLVED that the sum of Twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), GENETICS -
RF 53108 1 6 LEDERBERG

or as much thereof as may be necessary, be, and it

is hereby, appropriated to the UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
toward support of a program of research in genetics
under the direction of Associate Professor Joshua
Lederberg, during the four-year period beginning
September 1, 1953, not more than $7,500 to be available

in any one year.

The following considerations were presented:

Natural Sciences and Agriculture: Biology - Genetics

Previous Interest: A grant in aid of $7,500 to the University of
Wisconsin provided support for research in genetics by Professor
Joshua Lederberg during the three years ending April 30, 1951. A
current grant of $8,000 for the same purpose will expire August 31,
1953.

ral Deser ion: Professor Joshua Lederberg is one of the leading
experts in the field of biochemical genetics, having taken his Doctor's
training under Professor E, L. Tatum when the latter was at Yale Univer-
sity. Since joining the Department of Genetics at the University of
Wisconsin, Professor Lederberg has become recognized as one of the most
original and productive workers in the growing field of bacterial
genetics, He is, in fact, one of the pioneers in that field, since he
originally became convinced, even before he went to work under Dr. Tatum,
that bacteria at times demonstrate the phenomena of "sex," or more
specifically, the phenomena of gene transfer between different strains.

It is interesting to note that the scientific study of the mechanisms
of heredity has progressively advanced toward simpler and simpler material.
Beginning with Mendel's use of garden plants, the science of genetics next
utilized the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. More recently great ,
advances were made through the use of the bread mold, Neurospora, Still
more recently, a growing group of scientists have chosen bacteria and even
viruses for their studies in genetics. It is in this last field that
Professor Lederberg is recognized as a pioneer and as a leader.

Dr, Lederberg's more recent work at the University of Wisconsin has

shed a great deal of light on the intimate life habits of two groups of
bacteria: the colon bacilli and the paratyphoid bacilli. On the one hand,

EC 6/19/53
23373

these studies have helped ta explain how pathogenic bacteria UNIVERSITY OF
develop new forms capable of resisting drugs or of initiating WISCONSIN -
disease in previously immune hosts; and, on the other, they GENETICS -
provide the theoretical background for the breeding in the LEDERBERG
laboratory of special bacterial types for medical and other (Continued)
applications, as well as for more fundamental studies in

genetics.

Finances: Assistance in the amount of $25,000 over four years is

F

recommended, Of this amount, approximately 70 per cent would be
utilized for personnel (project associates, assistants, and hourly
help), approximately 20 per cent for expendable chemical supplies
and glassware, and approximately 10 per cent for some small items
of permanent equipment.

a > Since Professor Lederberg is one of the young
and rapidly developing specialists in this important field, it is
probable that the Division will wish to recommend further assistance
for hin.

EC 6/19/53