November 1I2, 1959

Dr. Elizabeth $5. Russell
Jackson Laboratory
Bar Harbor, Maine

Dear Tibby:

A number of us here are more and more convinced that the mouse
deserves to be exploited much more than it has been for studies of
antibody formation. One of the limitations has been the lack of
sufficlent quantities of serum globulin for detailed chemical as
well as biological studies. If a basic study of mouse globulin
were made It would be extremely useful for further work on antibody
formation In this species.

Mel Cohn in particular ts interested in doing some chemical
studies, Including some amino acid analysis, on well characterized
mouse globulins. Gus Nossal is keen to make preparations that would
be useful In tagging globulin in lymphold cells. It occurred to us
that you might be In a position to be of tremendous help to us and
| would like to appeal to your generosity.

What we would like to beg from you Is that you arrange to
collect serum on a large scale from among the very many mice that you
must be obliged to destroy. Insofar as this in Gonventent, the sera
from different Inbred stratns should be segregated. Mel tells me that
he would be happy to have any quantity; but even a liter would not
be more than he could profitably use. The sera should not be sterilized
and perhaps could be shipped most conveniently in frozen form.
Naturally we will be happy to reimburse the Laboratory for expenses
Incidental to the collection and shipment of the materials. | am
sure | do not have to urge on you the utility of this program nor
the reasons why your laboratories would be the best place to seek
this help.

With best regards,

Joshua Lederberg

cc: M. Cohn