Letter from Linus Pauling to J.B.S. Haldane. August 16, 1955. Page 1  Larger Images / More Information. 1 p.  View Transcript

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Activity Listings

• Check from AHP to California Cartage Company Inc. for $18.77. [Filed under LP Biographical: (Business and Financial: Bank Statements and Canceled Checks, December 1954-February 1956), Box #4.0923, Folder #23.1]
• Letter from A. H. Walter, Contract Administrator, to the Secretary, The Ford Foundation, cc: LP, RE: Submits eight copies of the application written by LP for a research program on biochemical and structural chemical factors in relation to mental disease. [Letter from McDaniel to Walter August 25, 1955] [Filed under LP Science: Box #11.088, Folder #88.1]
• Letter from Bowen C. Dees, Program Director for Fellowships, National Science Foundation, to LP RE: Asks for LP's appraisal of the activities of Fellow Frank B. Mallory. [Letter from LP to Dees September 1, 1955] [LP Science: (National Science Foundation: Correspondence, 1947, 1951-1989), Box #14.029, Folder #29.3]
• Letter from Dr. W.W. Newschwander, Associate Professor of Chemistry, Central Washington College of Education, to LP RE: Pleasantly surprised by LP's letter, in which he suggested that he attend the first week of the Institute of Teachers of Chemistry, to be held at Central. Expects to hear from the National Science Foundation around November 1. Will let LP know about the action of their application as soon as possible. [Letters from LP to Newschwander August 8, 1955, October 6, 1955] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (N: Correspondence), #287.22]
• Letter from LP to David Martin, RE: Returns Martin's letter, in case he wants to keep the picture. Encloses reprints dealing with the matter of determining the structure of molecules and crystals. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (M: Correspondence, 1950-1955), #256.6]
• Letter from LP to Dr. F.H. Westheimer, Chemistry Dept., Harvard University, RE: Reminds Westheimer of his interest in determining the crystal structure of ethylene phosphate. If Westheimer obtains any promising crystals, hopes he they will send them. [Letter from LP to Westheimer June 7, 1955, Letter from Westheimer to LP October 5, 1955] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (W: Individual Correspondence. (Weichsel - White)), #434.6]
• Letter from LP to Dr. Jerry Donohue, Chemistry Dept., University of Southern California, Los Angeles, RE: Will need two complete copies of the manuscript on "Histidine Hydochloride Monohydrate," with figures. One copy must be sent to NFIP at the same time as the top copy is sent to the journal, and the other is for LP's files. The article should carry the following footnote: "Aided in part by a grant from the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis." It should also have a Gates and Crellin contribution number. Requests that Donohue consult Beatrice Wulf about ordering reprints. The NFIP frequently wishes to buy 500 and Caltech will want 200. [Letter from Unknown to Donohue August 19, 1955] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (D: Individual Correspondence. (Dil - Dyson)), #96.10]
• Letter from LP to Dr. P. H. Miller, Jr., Physics Dept., University of Pennsylvania, RE: Would be pleased to continue to receive one copy of the technical reports of work done under Miller's contract N6-onr-24914. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (M: Correspondence, 1950-1955), #256.6]
• Letter from LP to H.E. Dixon, RE: Has sent Dixon's letter to Dr. Itano, who knows much more about sickle cell anemia. Itano can give good advice about Dixon's daughter. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (D: Correspondence, 1936-1959)), #98.20]
• Letter from LP to Professor Hans Neurath, Biochemistry Dept., University of Washington, RE: Pleased that Neurath will be able to attend the conference on Molecular Structure and Biological Specificity. The subject that Neurath proposes to speak on is satisfactory. Will send more information later regarding the general topics and the schedule for presentations. [Letter from Neurath to LP August 9, 1955, Letter from Neurath to Reynolds September 12, 1955] [Filed under LP Speeches: 1955s.24]
• Letter from LP to Professor J.B.S. Haldane, Biometry Dept., University College, London. [Letter from Haldane to LP August 15, 1955] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (H: Individual Correspondence. (Haaland - Harned)), #151.5]

  16 August 1955

  Professor J.B.S.Haldane

  Department of Biometry

  University College

  London, W.C.l, Gower Street

  England

  Dear Haldane:

  I thank you for your letter, and the reference to the book by Penrose, which I have not yet read. I shall get hold of it as soon as I can.

  I am glad to hear your argument about the synthesis of molecules of hemoglobin - 2 x 10⁸ molecules made by one gene in less than 10⁶ seconds. I agree with you that is is [sic] unlikely that a single gene could manufacture hemoglobin molecules directly at the rate of 200 per second. Accordingly, I think that your suggestion that the gene synthesizes a thousand or so molecules that then act as templates for hemoglobin synthesis is a reasonable one.

  On the other hand, I am not sure that you may conclude that the gene itself may be like a part of a hemoglobin molecule in shape. First, it seems to me not unlikely that protein molecules in general are synthesized in the form of extended polypeptide chains, which coil up into a stable configuration after separation from the template. Perhaps the process of coiling, with its formation of hydrogen bonds, provides the energy for pulling the polypeptide chain away from the template. Similarly, the template itself, postulated to be synthesized by the gene, might be synthesized in a configuration different from that that it assumes in order to serve as a template, for example, the gene, a molecule of deoxyribosenucleic acid, might serve as the template for the synthesis of the template, a molecule of ribose nucleic acid, in the extended form, and this RNA template molecule might then coil into a different configuration, to serve as the template for the manufacture of hemoglobin.

  Cordially yours,

  Linus Pauling:L

• Letter from LP to Professor Kenneth S. Pitzer, Chemistry Dept., University of California, Berkeley, RE: Can arrange to spend a week at Berkeley beginning January 4 and then another two weeks beginning February 13. Has a few arrangements, including a talk on February 27. Heard that Pitzer's son Russell was to be a freshman at Caltech next year. Looks forward to meeting him. [Letters from Pitzer to LP August 11, 1955, September 28, 1955] [Filed under LP Speeches: 1956s.3]
• Letter from LP to Professor S. Mizushima, Chemistry Dept., University of Notre Dame, RE: Pleased that Mizushima will be visiting in about six weeks. Wonders if he would like LP to reserve a room for him in the Athenaeum for the nights of Sept. 26 and 27. It will be fine for Mizushima to visit on Sept. 27. All of the packages sent by boat arrived safely. [Letters from Mizoshima to LP August 10, 1955, August 19, 1955] [Filed under LP Correspondence: (M: Individual Correspondence. (Mills - Morgan)), #248.6]
• Letter from LP to Richard T. Meyer, RE: The Secretary of the Dean of Graduate Studies will send Meyer a Caltech catalog and graduate student admission application/graduate assistant appointment application. All of Meyer's questions should be answered in the catalog, except for one, which LP will answer: The Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering has new graduate students take placement examinations, covering undergraduate subjects, prior to fall term. After a year, students take oral candidacy examinations, and finally an oral examination for the Ph.D. degree. Meyer can find out about the research interests of other staff members by reading papers they have published. [Filed under LP Correspondence: (M: Correspondence, 1950-1955), #256.6]
• Letter from LP to Rosemary Haskell, American Russian Institute, RE: LP regrets that he won't be able to speak at Judge Stanley Moffatt's 70th birthday. [Letter from Haskell July 27, 1955] [Filed under LP Peace: (Assorted Peace Groups, Am-Co), Box #4.010, Folder #10.1]
• Letter from R.D. Morgan, Department of Mental Hygiene to Children Limited, NARC, cc: LP RE: Encloses a $2.50 check for a one year's subscription to Children Limited for R.D. Morgan and LP. Note to LP that the magazine usually contains information regarding biochemical research into the causes of mental deficiency. [Letter from LP to Morgan August 24, 1955] [Filed under LP Science: Orthomolecular Medicine and Mental Health: Materials re: Ford Foundation grants for the study of mental disorders, 1955-1966: Box #11.089, Folder #89.13]
• Memorandum: LP to Forrest Carter, RE: "Proposed Theoretical Treatment of Protonated Molecules and Atoms." [Filed under LP Research Notebooks: 20R]