April 26, 1960

Professor J. B&B. S. Haldane
indien Statistical Institute
20% Berracknore Road
Calcutte 35, Indie

Beer Professor Haldane:

Happy to hear from you end read your letter of the 9th. |
wrote Muller not long ago that it was no use trying to write
anything new in theoretical biology -- at least not without
searching for years in the library under Mu and Ha == since
the two of you, between you, had enticipated most of the now
fashinable currant ideas in genetics. (1! say this with respect,
not irony.) {!f you would only publish systematically in one

sort of place it would be much easier for us. | will look
up ''The Planet Earth.'' However, I'm sure you're quite used to
all this.

I'll see if any of my friendly mathematicians want to
solve your log table anelogy. This kind of analysis Is beyond
me,

What |'m writing to ask now is this: | was pleased to
seé your name on the program for a genetics symposium in
Salt Lake City next month. Unfortunately, | doubt | will
be attending myself (I've just returned from 10 days in
London.) But if you ere coming, | should regret missing you.
The odds ere at least even on your travelling through San
Francisco end if so Esther and | would be very happy to
meet your plane and spend some time with you. If you can
éerrange your itinerary to spend 2 day here at Stanford (about
25 miles south of San Francisco alrport) end to give our
biologists e lecture so much the better -- end we can furnish

@ modest honorarium. 1 weuld not presume to insist on a topic,
which should be of your own choice. ! would be delighted myself
if you detailed your views on the origin cf life. In any case

| hope we can menage to see you.

Best regards,

Joshue Lederberg
Professor of Genetics