APPENDIX 8 



REPORT ON THE DIVISION OF RADIATION AND 

 ORGANISMS 



Sik: I have the honor to submit the following report of progress 

 made by the new Division of Radiation and Organisms during its 

 first 3'ear of existence. 



The purpose of the division is to undertake those investigations 

 dealing with radiation bearing directly, or indirectly, upon biological 

 problems. The central idea in the development of the division is 

 to build up an especially strong spectrophotomctric laborator}', with 

 a staff of experienced physicists and technicians to work cooper- 

 atively with men of biological training. Problems undertaken fall 

 into two classes : 



1. Direct investigntioiis upon livini; organisms. 



2. Fuud.unental molecular structure and photochemical investigations re- 

 lated to the bioloRical problems. 



Brieflj', the following developments have taken place. Basement 

 space in the Smithsonian Building, previously used for storage, has 

 been reconstructed into a modern physical, chemical, and biological 

 laboratory. Equipment has been purchased, and tlie laboratory 

 appointed. Offices have been furnished and developed in the north 

 tower. A small staff of investigators, of highly specialized training 

 in the various allied fiekls, has been assembled. Plans have been 

 made, and equipment partially developed for growth of plants 

 under controlled conditions. A preliminary experiment upon the 

 phototropic i)ending of })lants has been carried to completion with 

 interesting results. Equipment has been assembled for a more ex- 

 tensive experiment in tliis field. In cooperation with the Fixed 

 Nitrogen Laboratory, the near infrared investigation of the lialogen 

 derivatives of benzene has been completed. 



Arrangements for cooperation with the l)ej)artment of Agricul- 

 ture, in carrying out an experiment on the effect of light upon the 

 rooting of Citrus cuttings and the growth of palms, have been con- 

 summated. In cooperation with the Research C'orjioration, staff and 

 shop have been provided for instrumental development. 



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