MARINE EXPERIMENTAL STATION
7 12/15/46

THE LANKENAU HOSPITAL
RESEARCH INSTITUTE

NORTH TRURO, CAPE COD, MASS.

Dear Dr. Lederberg:

Thank you for sending me reprint of your very stimulating
note In SCIENCE which I had read with appreciation.

Have you run across J. Furth's article on Leucaemia recently in
PHYSIOLOGICAL REVIEWS. There he states what to my mind is an
excellent position regarding the origin of "virus". Using the
term for want of better.

What I would like to see is a concerted concentrated investigation
into the nature of "virus"; be it cancer or whatever.

All those so far Lsolated seem to have nucleoid characteristics.

As an old-line biochemist I would also like to see studies tracking
down the origin of cytoplasmic nucleoproteinlike compounds. This is
an open field for some young vigorous enthusiastic worker. And the
new machines which help separation of cellular components could
perhaps be used to advantage.

Also once separation procedures were established the use of isotopes
to trace the constituents and their precedents should being much
of value.

Just think what could happen in immunology if a virus formed in an
egg could be made with isotope and then put into an animal and
$raced to where it does its work.

Sincerely | a
Cr gee few 47. Dewi ie Fe
,

FSH: dwh Frederick S. Hammett, Scientific Director

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