GENETICS SOCIETY OF AMERICA

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY- TREASURER

BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY

UPTON, L. ts. NEW YORK
Department of Genetics
University of Wisconsin March 24, 1950
Madison 6, Wisconsin

Dr. Joshua Lederberg 5 %
Department of Genetics (——

University of Wisconsin
Madison 6, Wisconsin

Dear Josh:

You may have in mind that the Genetics Society of America in December, 1949,
voted to arrange a program at its annual meeting in September, 1950, to
celebrate the semi-centennial of the founding of genetics as a seience, A
committee (L, C. Dann, C, I. Huskins, I, Michael Lerner, P, C, Mangelsdorf,
and myself) was appointed to make plane for this program, The committee has
reached the definite conclusion that the meeting in 1950 of the Genetics
Society is a very appropriate time to review and assess the progress in
genetics and its contribution to other fields in these 50 years,

Furthermore, the committee feels that this is an important occasion, not
only for genetics and biology, but for the progress of science generally,
There is no need to inform you of the disagreement in various parts of the
world over the basic principles of genetics, nor that the freedoms necessary
for scientific inquiry are being challenged in some countries, It is the
considered opinion of the program committee that the best answer to the anti-
genetics propaganda, and anti-sience propaganda, in general, is to present

@ program at this Golden Jubilee which will put principal emphasis on the
positive achievements of genetics, both theoretical and applied, This should
not be done in a spirit of either boastfubness or complacency, but nevertheless
should etress accomplishments with emphasis on the conditions of freedom and
international cooperation among scientists under which the progress was nade,
No single science has a better opportunity to speak for the cause of the
freedom of science in general than has genetics during this Golden Jubilee
year,

It 1s proposed that the meetings begin with some attention to the historical
aspects, Some of the principal theoretical and practical problems with which
genetics has been concerned will then be considered, It is the hope of the
committee that each speaker will not only indicate the development and the
most promising lines of advance in the fields which he surveys, but will also
speculate a little on possibilities for future thought and discovery,

At one of the sessions at these neetings, the general topic will be "Physiology
of the gene", We wish you to give one of the papers at this session, at which

1900 SEMI- CENTENNIAL -- THE SCIENCE OF GENETICS 1950
Dr, Joshua Lederberg - 2 March 24, 1950

Beadle, Bphrussi, and Sonneborn are also being asked to epeak,

It seems reasonably certain that funds will be availeble to put én a very
worth while program of three days' duration at the meeting at Columbus, Ohio,
September 11 to 14 inclusive, and to assemble the papers for an early formal
publication, In order to secure as wide a distribution as possible of this
volume in this and other countries, it is proposed that individual rights to
royalties be waived, and that the resultant savings be employed to decrease
the purchase price of the volume,

The committee is sure that you will appreciate the importance of this Golden
Jubilee program and that we all need and shall value your participation,
Will you kindly let me have your reply as soon as possible?
Very truly yours,
7 WY
a A
* ° I

MRI: IS For the Committes