Vi PREFACE 



topics in photosynthesis: the chemistry of the reduction of carbon 

 dioxide, and the (inestion of the smallest number of quanta capable 

 of accomplishing this reduction. At the time of the meeting, the 

 first of these topics had been treated in several reviews, which sug- 

 gested general agreement concerning the experimental results and 

 their interpretation. The second topic, too, was in a static condition 

 — that of a disagreement which had persisted for twenty years. 



The program was organized mainly around the problem of the 



primary photochemical process in photosynthesis about which 



we know yet next to nothing — with the inclusion of those of the sec- 

 ondary reactions which seemed most likely to furnish clues to the 

 mechanism of the primary process. 



The editors wish to acknowledge the help of Dr. John Brugger in 

 editing and transposing the discussion. Together ^^ith Miss Dolores 

 Heffernan and Miss Marlene Roeder, he also took care of a great part 

 of proofreading and indexing. It is a pleasant duty to express sin- 

 cere thanks to all of them. 



June 1957 H- G. 



