December 28, 1950.

Dear Max:

Following your last letter, I formally wrote up a set of contract
proposals, which are being set through channels here. As usually
happens, the responsible officials leave town precisely when the papers
raach thoir desk, but they should resch you in « week or ten days.

Tne University mst be almost a9 complex 29 your Commission: for this
rather simple recuest, the papers hive to gc thrcugh four or pos-
sibly five successive channels, but 4n fact, the red tape goes rather
smoothly.

Belatedly following your adviae, I increased the reques! from
$600 to $1000, so that I will be able to put on an assistant on the
progject atarting next Septenber. I will not insist on this increase,
hovever, if there should be any hesitaticn about it.

Mot mich new selentifically: Ifve becn too buey in the office.

I've decided not to put out a special paper vet on the e/feets of UY,
ete., on the diploids. I started to rrite one, but found it necescary
to aake 90 many detailed explanckions aBout the behavior of diploids,
hat if ccon becume clear that I'd have to polish up the duts on their
Snormenl® behavior. I still can't say 7 understand the mechanism of
alimination which leads tc Mal hemizygosity, but I've about reached
the point where it does not seem worthwhile to pursue it any longer
for the time being. I'm hoping that the new studtes on crosses between
different coli strains will eventually bring me back to that problem,
but with a more cefinite approach.

As Stanter wrote, here's hoping we can face the new year without
shuddering.

Sincerely,

Joshua Lederberg