I. AVOID FRUITLESS EXPERIMENTS 19 



another laboratory. Capable administrators should be able to provide 

 funds for this purpose, basing their decision on the value of the trip 

 in forwarding the worker's research program. 



E. CHOOSE BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL CRITICALLY 



1. Select Best Genus and Species of Organism 



The relative success of numerous investigations depends in large 

 measure on a fortunate choice of biological material. As an example, 

 one may cite the genetic studies with the fruit fly, Drosophila. 

 Whether the original choice of Drosophila for this important work was 

 primarily accidental or based on careful considerations of its im- 

 portant attributes, I do not know, but the choice has proved to be 

 eminently successful. In addition, an element of luck has since 

 favored its selection in that one of the most important characteristics 

 of Drosophila from the cytogenetic standpoint, the existence of the 

 giant salivary gland chromosomes, was not brought to the attention 

 of geneticists until comparatively recently. 



While it is clear that certain organisms would not be convenient 

 for genetic experimentation, as for example elephants whether white, 

 gray, or pink, it must be noted that the ultimate qualities of an 

 organism which may possess decisive significance for a given type of 

 investigation are often revealed only after careful study. This may 

 justify a preliminary survey of some duration to discover the best 

 biological material before embarking on an extensive research pro- 

 gram. For individuals relatively unfamiliar with experimental 

 organisms, as perhaps physicists who may be working in this border- 

 line field, consultation with several competent experimental biologists 

 is recommended. Since it is not uncommon for a biologist to spend all 

 of his scientific career in the detailed study of a single organism or of a 

 group of closely related organisms, he is in a position to offer in- 

 valuable guidance. 



The choice of an organism may be determined largel}" by eco- 

 nomic factors. Certainly such factors have dictated the scientific 

 study of numerous cultivated plants and the domestic animals. The 

 widespread use of small laboratory animals for nutritional studies has 

 been based in large measure on size considerations for economic 

 reasons, but their similarity to man in nutritional response has also 

 been a significant item. Other important considerations are: the 



