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Af September 10, 1959

f Dear Luca:

og > I -- we-- have been thinking of writing for some time but have all the
usual excuses for delay. All sorts of " new " things are going on ina
small domestic way. For example this letter is typed with a brand new
Olympia small portable typewriter. We decided to trade in our Olivetti,
which was getting worn out very quickly. I must say that this seems to
be a much better machine, though it weighs the same, and costs a bit
less than the Olivetti-Lettera. You might want to try this yourself.
(We also got one of the standard Olympia portables which is a very well-
known and rugged apparatus; but I couldn't resist getting this too when

I saw it.)

The other thing that's new is that we finally got a new car, after
postponing it so long. We were so undecided for a long time, but we
finally settled for a 1959 Studebaker Lark station wagon. This is a
somewhat smaller car than the current Fords & Chevrolets (about the size
of the larger new Fiats) and we thought it would be a real advantage to
have a station-wagon, considering how much moving we still have to do.
It has bright red upholstery inside that I am sure will appeal to your
latin spirits; it does ours! We sold our old Dodge immediately to Dr.
Makela, a postdoctoral fellow feom Finland who was glad to have a sound
if oldish car at a Bavorable price. Peter Sneath is right now driving
your erstwhile Plymouth back across the country on his way home. de
seems to have been very happy with it.

fhis week we are also moving into a small (but new) rental house near
the school. We will have to live here until our own house is built. We
are just working on the plans now, and it probably will be next spring
or summer before it can be ready. So far we have been renting one of the
faculy houses on campus, but the owners are returning in a few days and
we had to plan to move again. The new place (address: 715 Partridge Ave.,
Menlo Park, Calif.) is quite attractive in many ways for a rental, but it
is rather small and we will have some difficulty fitting in all the furniture
that should arrive soon from Sweden.

Finally, we have also just moved into our permanent Labs in the medieal
center, which is actually not yet quite finished, They are very nice labs
though we had to make some expedients since we arranged to move only
after the building plans had been fixed. It is aparticular pleasuee to
be so close to Kornberg ami Dale Kaisee and all tBe others.

There is nothing remarkable to tell you about in the lab except for
the business about FRXX F-prime mutants, i.e, clones in which F is attached
to a smal romosome segment wkigkxmrg whose genes are then ‘transduced!
along wi at cytogamy. The resulting heterogenotes make an especially
convenien™ ay to study position effects, etc. Unfortunately theye are
somewhat u able, so that spontaneogs segregation would intergfere with
quantitatyye studies on the rate of loss of the Felinked genes say after
radiatio: I am busy myself with some new techniques for specific
isolation of genotypes, and with various joint problems, We have rather a
rf group this year-- perhaps too many for me to Spend as much time as
I tld like on my own problems,
Luca=-- I realize that we may have sounded somewhat lukewarm about the
proposal for a comsultantship with your department. TZH If so, this would
havem been because ef a need to consider some of the implications, though
many of these would be obviously the most favorable. As matters now stand,

I would be really disappointed if it doesn't work out, and we hope it will

be possible. We are looking forward anyhow to seeing Gio' -+ when will this
be if he makes his planned trip? We will be delighted to show him our new
labs -- and would you tell him that our new phone number iad DAvenport 1-1200,
Ext. 5052; at home: DA-2-0686,

As we indicated before I would prefer an arrangement that would not require
an abrupt disconnection of my relationships with Bristol Labs. However, I am
now connected with a rather particular project that has no direct overlap with
any of the things you are doing in Pavia at present, and I do not believe there
can be any basis for anxiety. Also as we already discussed, I would be eager
to have a direct rapport with you and Gio' and the department in preference to
the Schering Corporation as such. (By the way when I realized they had the in-
telligence to be cobering your work I bought a few shares of their stock, amd
this has not been disappointing, the present momentary slump notwithstanding. )
As one of the (very minor!) owners of Schering I am also very keen on the pro-
gram you and Gio!’ proposed. All joking aside, we do look forward to the success-
ful outcome of your discussion with the Schering people.

We imagine you are still living in uncertainty if the genetics-ptofessorial-
selection committee has the dubious complexion you mentioned. What a shame!
But how can it not turn out favorably as far as you are concerned.

Anyhow, will you be able to think soon of your plans for next summer?
We are very eager to see you again, and especially here in our new environment,
which you and Alba will surely enjoy as much as we do. I don't have to press
you for a firm decision just yet, though I have just been taking it for granted
that you will have the sense to come.

Did you get the o - 3 system to work to any advantage to you? (Alan, by the
way is in the Army now, and after basic training was assigned to Fort Detrick:
he'll be working in a lab doing virus chemistry of some sort.

PS. Horgan aut the
Eouksilhue

ah?

As ever,