SEP 9 1970

 

THOMAS JEFFERSON RESEARCH CENTER CALIFORNIA o104 PHONE (213) 706-0791

4 September 1970

Dear Professor Lederberg:

I am writing you at the suggestion of George Beadle. In
his article, "Genetics and Cultural Change", Columbia Uni-
versity Forum, Fall, 1965, Vol. 8, No. 3, Dr. Beadle made

the following statements:

"Man is the product of two kinds of independent
evolution that for convenience and simplicity
we call biological and cultural. The latter
is of far greater significance in man than in
any of his fellow creatures on earth."

"Civilizations rose and fell one after another,
rising to great heights at times and dropping
back to the depths--much faster than can be
accounted for by genetic change, I am con-
vinced."

"Why did the cultures of Egypt, Mesopotamia,
Greece, Rome, Maya, Peru, Upper Mexico, and

other areas of the world rise and fall pre-

cipitously? I cannot believe genetic change
could have played a major part. The change

was much too rapid."

"Unlike biological inheritance the ‘'put-in'
part of cultural inheritance begins anew
with each generation, In the absence of
such cultural information put into the
br ain, none of us would speak, or write,
or sing in any intelligent way--or build
even the simplest tool. We would revert
at once to a cultural stage of hundreds
or thousands of years ago. But in another
single generation, given the proper cul-
tural context, there could be a complete
cultural restoration. What I am trying to
Professor J. Lederberg -2- 4 September 1970

say is that there is no apparent and
inherent limit to the speed with which
culture can be lost, acquired, improved,
or otherwise modified--given 'normal'
individuals of our species."

"The trick: to break or supplement early
in life in acceptable ways the normal,
parent-to-child chain of cultural trans-
mission. Our schools are now largely
unequipped to do this."

In view of the fact that many sociologists believe that
human nature is constantly changing through genetic evo-
lution and apparently this change is quite rapid and prob-
ably accelerating, Dr. Beadle'ts contention that the rise
and fall of societies is primarily cultural rather than
genetic has considerable significance. We would appreciate
it very much if you could tell us whether your own profes-
sional observations support Dr, Beadle and if not, in what
respect do you differ from the statements here quoted.

Your professional opinion will be greatly appreciated,

Sincerely yours,

Frank Goble

PG: mm
Encls: 509, NL5SO

Professor Joshua Lederberg

Stanford University

School of Medicine

Stanford ~ Palo Alto, California 94305