GENETICS DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS

The Genetics Department will share responsibility with the departments of
Pediatrics and Ob/Gyn for the implementation of the Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr.
Laboratories for Molecular Medicine, which are dedicated to the problem of
mental retardation. The Laboratories will provide for a wide range of research,
including clinical and laboratory studies on prematurity, Immunological factors
In reproduction, the blochemistry of the central nervous system and its develop-
mentsand basic studies in molecular biology and the genetics of microorgan! sms.
A Blo-Medical Instrumentation Laboratory, supported by the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration, Is also associated with the Genetics Department.

Major activities and principal Investigators:

GENETIC CHEMISTRY Professor J. Lederberg (Department Executive)

The genetic functions of DNA in bacteria. (DNA transformation In
B. subtilis.)

CELL GENETICS AND IMMUNOGENETICS Asst. Professor L. A. Herzenberg

Genetics of tissue cells In culture; genetics and chemistry of cell
antigens (mice); transplantation Imaunity.

PHYSIOLOGICAL GENETICS; BIOMETRICAL GENETICS Asst. Professor Walter Bodmer

Pending completion of new laboratories (Winter 1964-65) Or. Bodmer
is working directly with Dr. Lederberg In genetic chemistry. His
previous background has been In population genetics, and he is also
continuing studies along these lines, e.9., evolution of dominance,
and control of recombination.

MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY Assoc. Professor Eric Shooter (effective 1963-64)

Proteins of the central nervous system: chemical structure; cellular
distribution; developmental and genetic control; fole in information
storage.

COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY; EXOBIOLOGY

Molecular Blology In relation to biochemical evolution. (Aspects of
DNA and protein synthesis.) Responsibility for biochemical concepts
to guide the exoblology-instrumentation development.

BIO-MEDICAL INSTRUMENTAT ION Research Physicist Elliott Levinthal
(NASA support)

Engineering development of electronic and mechanical instrumentation

for the sensitive detection of basic attributes of life in planatary
landing missions. The program stresses the validation of basic con-
cepts but Includes selected hardware developments. NASA has specifically
charged this laboratory with the extension of technologically rebdted
ideas to basic problems in blology and medicine, e.g., Instrumentation
for ultra-sensitive assay in genetic chemistry, enzymology or neuro~
blology, as well as problems In other areas of medicine.