October 24, 1975

Captain Roy L. Morgan
P.O. Box 5061 ~—-
Everett, Washington 98206

Dear Captain Morgan,
I have your interesting note of October 17gh about genetic aquaculture.

Before we can hope to make any useful applications of genetic engineering
in this field ~ and I suspect that this will take quite a few years -

I think we will have to acquire much more basic knowledge on the nutrition,
physiology, ecology as well as genetics of useful food species. There is
probably a very great deal that could be done by applying conventional
breeding methods = as has been done in goldfish culture for different
purposes ~ and this basic knowledge of marine genetics would be absolutely
indispensable before attempting to apply more sophisticated approaches.

I do know that there is a group connected with the SYNTEX Corporation in
Palo Alto that is very much interested in the culture of crusta#tens along
somewhat similar lines and I suggest that you get in touch with them.

IT am afraid I do not have more particular information on who is involved.

Sincerely yours,

Joshua Lederberg
Professor of Genetics

JL/rr

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