Mr, Fredrickson 
- 2 
10 Dec, 1977 
I think I have read that some chemical or phar- 
maceutical concern has applied for a patent on a pro- 
duct of recombinant research. [This suggests many ques- 
tions. If true, I suppose the only control is the con- 
science of the maker, and what motivations have guided 
that? 
Speaking of motivations, let me quote from the At- 
lantic Monthly of last February: (There had been long 
discussion at the University of Michigan as to whether 
they would build a supersafe lab and undertake this re- 
search)- 
"Several of the faculty had come to believe that 
gene transplantation, like the military research 
disputed a few years before, was work that c. univ- 
sity simply should not do. M A professor brought 
the discussion to a head by tese remarks: "During 
the past fifteen to twenty years, we have let slip 
through our fingers numerous opportunities to es- 
tablish a strong cell-and-molecular-biology pro- 
gram here. At the moment, the university has a 
favorable position with respect to research on 
recombinant DMA. It is perfectly clear that other 
universities will proceed with ...resaerch on this 
subject. Should Michigan chose not to, we will 
lose our position; this interested faculty will, 
of course, go elsewhere; our recruitment in this 
and related areas will falter; and we will suffer 
a blow to our excellence." 
'Nuff said: the university has built the lab, and 
Just recently the papers say the research has begun. 
Since you know nothing of me, - I'm a conservative, 
just too young to have voted for Taft, but did for Hughes. 
Yale graduate. Have held top secret clearance fro both 
the AEC and the Pentagon. I'm the second man In this quote 
from Jacques Barzun: "It is an error to suppose that 
when a physicist talks about science he is more reliable 
than a so-called layman who has taken to inform himself 
and to think. " 
With assurances of my esteem, lam, 
Sincerely yours. 
Cf.' S ) P| 
[Appendix A — 122] 
