CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA

VISION OF BIOLOGY February 26, 1959

Dr. J. Lederberg

Department of Genetics

Stanford University Medical School
Stanford, California

Dear Josh:

Enclosed are several copies of my space biology report. I will
send a copy to Rossi, as you suggested, and to each of the names listed

on the first page. If I have left anyone out, please see that he gets
a copy.

I have been thinking that despite his pessimistic attitude toward
the possibility of life on Mars or Venus, Oparin should be interested in
the geochemical aspects of space exploration, since this might provide
experimental confirmation of his own ideas. I think this approach might
get somewhere with him and am considering the idea of sending him a copy.
One reason for hesitating is the fact that owing to our inimical opinions
on genetics, our relations are pretty formal, and he probably doesn't
trust me. Another reason is that there was talk of making official re-
presentations to the Russians, and this perhaps should be done first.
What do you think? Of one thing I am sure--it will be futile to worry
about the contamination problem if we can't get the Russians to agree.

I am also enclosing the program of a colloquium on space research
that will be held here on March 19 and 20. The dates dovetail perfectly
with the date of our next meeting, and I wonder if you and some of the
other committee members would like to attend for one or both days? At-
tendance is limited and by invitation only, but I could get invitations
for four or five people. Let me know if you or any of the others in the
S.F. area are interested, the sooner the better. I will certainly attend.

Best regards,

Yours,
AAW

Norman Horowitz

NH: kw

PO. Kaus da Y Co MET mg Lagpemete ?