ARMY MEDICAL SERVICE GRADUATE SCHOOL
WALTER REED ARMY MEDICAL CENTER
WASHINGTON 12, D.C.

IN REPLY REFER TO

Bactericlogy Department

 

9 December 1952

Dre J. Lederberg
University of Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin.

Dear Dr. Lederberg,

Enclosed is a& manuscript concerning the “copper bug". It was
just sent off to the Journal of General Physiology a couple of
days ago, but in the event that it may be of some use to you at
this time end since any remarks of theirs are hardly necessary
to you, I am sending it on to you nows +

Because my duties here have expanded in several directions apart
from research, end because my time and interest have settled
primarily on the chemistry of the DNA of the organisms as well
as on our new virus nucleotide, I have explored the genetics of
the transformation very little.

We have taken cultures of K 12 and treated them as we did the B
strain.g By making the copper concentration four times as great
it has been possible to get some small colony forms, but not with
the control and regulerity that we get with Be Furthermore with
K 12 in tubes with greater concentfations of copper, althoygh
density remains the same or deureases, absorption at 260 goes up
considerably higher than that normally seen. The matter or
lysogenicity and copper arises and must be considered along with
the observations on the small colony formse

I should like very much to see this matter thoroggly investigated

from a genetic point of view. If after a few pilot experiments

you think worthwhile things can be done, would it be possible for

me to spend a couple of weeks in your laboratory exploring along

with your groupe Trained in biochemistry and not in geretics I would

of course leave the problem in yours hands, but would appreciate

the opportunity to gain at least a little more insight. I will await
evaluation a d word from you before I approach the Army about such ea visite

acts yours "1 )
\

P.Se. I would eppreciate your returning the manuscript when you ere .
thru with it, alons with any comments of course.