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(Lh pooprere to Mink’ 4-6-6 9

Memo on "SPACE BIOLOGY"

Since this document seems to scrupulously avoid reference to sa aighe,

I assume that this is not the place to expand on requirements for biological
investigations in support of extended manned voyages. I will, therefore,
take the stance of the biologist whose sense of priorities is uninfluenced
by the broader issues of the exploration in space and who would view the
program solely from the standpoint of basic biology and to some extent its
applications for terrestrial problems.

I trust you will realize that this is not representative of my own
position which would give much heavier weight to the general issue of the
exploration of the solar system.

I do not believe that the emergence of a "coherent and unifying
theory of biology" is a realistic goal for the next decade in the context
of the present discussion. I am perhaps biased by the view that such a
theory is to be found primarily in 1) molecular processes and 2) the
general theory of adaptation, natural selection, and evolution. Neither
of these is especially germane to studies in space physiology with the
particular exceptanee of the possible bearing of the space environment
on evolutionary mechanisms. The implication in the middle paragraph that
space biology during the next 15 years is likely to make vital contributions
to world problems is going to be attacked by many people and I think you will
be hard put to set up a plausible Sdnezio for that outcome. The thinking in
terms of large systems that characterizes work in space may yet prove to be
an indispensible contribution to the solution of earth-bound problems;but I
believe few biologists would give a very high priority to the specific
kinds of information that can be most economically achieved by biological
experiments in space.

Space physiology has indeed focussed attention on two areas of
investigation mentioned in the document as relating to gravity and
periodicity. I have yet to note any really exciting outcome of work on
low gravity. On the other hand, I foresee a great deal of interest in
studies, stimulated by space efforts, on artificial environments with
high gravity and with high intensity vibrational stresses. These are
environments which are very relevant to space physiology but which can,
of course, be simulated on earth much more cheaply than by space flights.

Almost the same remark can be made about periodicity. I do concede,
however, that there is a range of phenomena for which we may not readily
produce sufficient isolation from terrestrial rhythms and these would be good
candidates for experiments in space biology. That case is still a speculative
one but it certainly does demand a place in our forecasts for the biology
of the next decade. Once again I would stress that I do not minimize the
importance of space-stimulated efforts at studying parameters that had been
relatively neglected until now. Periodicity undoubtedly plays a crucial part
in behavior and misbehavior in complex organisms especially and may be of very
considerable importance in human mental health.

When we turn, however, to the exploration of space we have the potentialities
for the discovery of new forms of life, of new habitats to which important
adaptations will have to be made,and indeed the whole set of challenges of
"unearthly" problems. This is I believe very well stated on page 2 and I may
scribble only a few minor adjustments to this section of the write-up.
Memo on "SPACE BIOLOGY" Page 2

The program objectives appear, however, to be quite plausibly
stated and I find this section of the document quite persuasive.
I am, however, puzzled that there is still no reference to lay the
groundwork, not necessarily for the support of long range ventures in
the manned exploration of space but even to provide the information
needed to make wiser judgements on less than a crash basis in the future
about the potential feasibility of extended voyages. For many reasons
human subjects are not always the most appropriate experimental material
for studying the biological impact of space environments. One need not
attempt to justify space physiology in terms of a settled commitment, whose
costs might be alarming, for early manned space exploration; but we surely
should be taking advantage of any lead time we have to uncover special
prob@ems and ways of dealing with them. For example, the interaction between
space gravity and solar radiation is an important area about which we know
very little. Furthermore, since we already know of some potential hazards,
for example the depletion of calcium during prolonged space flights, we .-.
could use the time for experimental studies to establish the best physiological
and pharmacological regimes to counteract these effects. Once, again I do
not think human subjects should always be used for exploratory work of this
kind. Consider the implications of procedures like prolonged hypothermia.

The general studies of . adaptation mentioned on page 3, paragraph 3a,
would, of course, open the door to the entire area of applied biology. The
program can be specified with varying degrees of legitimacy as being space
relevant. For example, the approaches needed to make the confined volume
of a spacecraft cabin habitable over an extended period of time might have
a definite bearing on solving air pdlution problems on the larger scale
of the earth atmosphere. I have in mind, for example, the development of
biological as well as physical-chemical filters for the elimination of noxious
products like carbonmonoxide and chlorinated hydrocarbons. The system approach
that could make Mars habitable might do some good on earth too. At the very
least the spacecabin atmosphere monitoring procedures are very relevant to
earthbound conditions.

I am enclosing a few trial efforts at revising some of the specific
text for whatever use you can make of it.

Simcerely yours,

    
   
  

ghua Lederberg
‘ofessor of Genetics

JL/rr