=PARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY

INDIANA UNIVERSITY

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA

November 5, 1951

Dr. Joshua Lederberg
Department of Genetics
University of wisconsin
Madison 6, Wisconsin

Dear Joshua:

I expect to be in Chicago again either late in November, or
early in December, or both. I'11 let you know as soon as plans
become definite so we can arrange to meet.

My course has been given only three times. The first time
(1946) it was on Paramecium, Chlamydomonas and Yeast. The second
time (1948), it dealt in greatest detail with Neurosrora, but also
included a number of other Fungi (Yeast, Bacteria, etc.) and
Paramecium. The third time (1951), it dealt in greatest detail
with sexuality im. Algae and Protozoa. The only one of these three
courses for which I have a syllabus is the second and I will send
you a copy of it. Flease remember that this is an uncorrected
copy and that many corrections and additions were made orally.

For the other two courses, I have no outlines or mimeographed
material of any kind, only my lecture notes of which there is only
one copy and a microfilm I had made for protection when I took the
material to South America. I'11 send you the microfilm.

Since I last wrote, I have been subjected to considerable
pressure to give a course next semester on the genetics of viruses
and bacteria, I hate to do this for I desperately need a free
semester, but I may have to give in, for most of the students who
want it will probably not be here in 1954 when I vlanned to give
that course. But I haven't yet decided.

It is of course entirely possible that you will feel the
points of view exoressed in my outlines and lecture notes are so
far from your views that we could not get together. I do not think
so. If my views are wrong or unwise, you will not find it diffi-
cult to convince me. JI am only interested in putting out the
soundest and wisest treatise that can be achieved with the present
state of knowledge. It is precisely because I have so rrofound
a respect. for your judgment that I think we could together do a
far better job than I could do alone. I would by no means look
upon you as a very junior co-author, but as a fully equal co-worker
in an enterprise that would call for the best we both can put into
the job at every point. Unless this book can be the best pro-
duction possible at this time, I'm not interested in it at all.

For the book, I do not propose to follow any of my courses.
AS I believe I wrote you, I had thought of a plan somewhat along
the following lines.
Or. Joshua Lederberg
Page #2

Part I. The organisms: their general biology, life histories,
reproduction, and cytogenetic processes, with the special genetics
of each,

Part II. The general problems of genetics in microorganisms,
such as: the 1:1 theory and biochemical genetics; the cytoplasm in
heredity; the problem of self-duplication of menetic units; trans-
formations and their bases; mapping, crossingover, and chromosome
behavior; mutation and mutagenesis; selection and population
genetics; etc.

Part III. an attempted brief synthesis of the status of the
genetics of microorganisms, the lines along which further develop-~
ments may be expected, etc.

This is a very rough and very tentative plan, subject to
drastic revision if it seems desirable. I'd be erateful for any
comments, And I hope--for the good of the end result—-that you
will join in.

With best wishes to you and Esther,

Cordially,

TMS: jb T. RE Sodocvorn