_ July 12, 1968

Dr. Henry David

Division of Behavioral Sciences

National Academy of Sciences

2101 Constitution Avenue ~ ; —

Washington, D. C. 28408 pe
Dear Henry:

When Motulsky and I proposed th e Life Sciences Committee meet in Austin
together with the American Soci€ty of Human Genetics, we had in mind only
an informational and not a political purpose. We have, however, meanwhile,
been wearing different hats for an ad hoc committee of the American Society
of Human Genetics. This has concerned itself with the queséion of any role

of advocacy that the Society might or might not play. A group of us finally wt
did formulate the recommendations, a draft of which is enclosed herewith.
™
I am transmitting these to you now in a purely informal way, as part of a Wi
preliminary exploration of the feasibility of this kind of relationship as
between scientific societies and the Academy. As tf is now constituted, the \
new committee on life sclences and social policy has decided to focus on the Uy

most central issues of bilo-social policy, but there are many other concerns

of a more immediate and a more highly technical nature that we probably should
not neglect. I believe that the Academy would beéa very appropriate agency

to organize specialized studies in such fields. ‘The attached proposal should
be self-explanatory, and I am sending it to you at this time to be sure that
it does not have irremediable built-in defects that would militate against its
sober consideration. Since this proposal will bé discussed at the meeting of
the American Society of Huaan Genetics, that occasion might also be a very
appropriate one for further discussion and negotiation of details of the way
in which this relationship could be perfected.

One of the most improtant concerns that any single professional society must
have is that its rather narrow outlook makes it an excellent source of expertise
on specific technical questions, but not very effective or representative for
dealing with larger social problens. But if the Academy doesn't pick up that
ball, what else is it for?

Until there has been some formal action on these recommendations by the Society
this can be regarded as a purely private inquiry, but there need be no particu-
lar secret about it.

Sincerely yours,

Joshua Lederberg
Professor of Genetics