November 24, 1955

if. Dennis Flanagan
Selentific American
2 est 45 Street
New York 3@, '.Y.

Dear Mr. Flanagan:

Almost seven years ago, I received a letter from the dddtor of the
renascent Scientific American requesting a manuscript. I did send you
one in due course, but for whatever reason, it was never published, al-
though you were kind enough to pay me for the very rough draft that I
had submitted as a preliminary version. However, I hope that enough time
has passed to warrant a fresh start.

During that interwal, bacterial genetics has gone through several gyra-
tions, but probably nothing has been more mysterious cr excited more interest
than the phenomenen of transduction. I have had recurrent questions from
blologists, even immediately outside my own specialty (and sometimes in
it!) which indicated that more fundamental explanation was needed than
I would care to include in an ordinary technical review. I therefore de-
cided to put thgether the enclosed manuscript, and the aost likely place
for its publication, for the audience I had in mind, seamed to me to be
your magazine, At least, in writing this draft, I have kept in mind your
prescription for an article that might be addressed to "a hypothetical
scientist in a field far removed from my] own.’

Naturally, I hope that you will be able to accept this article, but
whether you do or net I would appreciate your comment on 4t. I have tried
to avoid my previous mistake (of sending you a rough draft) but realize
that while the ms. seams finished to me now, you may find it suitable
grist for your editorial mill. I have been especially puzzled about the
form of reference to other scientists’ work, cf which there is of course
a good deal here. I have also not attempted to make finished drawings, but
will do so if you mistakenly conclude that I could do better than your
own staff.

I am enclosing return postage and an address label.

Yours sincerely,

Joshua Lederberg
~ Professor of Genetics