December 4, 1969
Dear Dunny,
I am not at all concerned about any errors being attributed to me.  What I had in mind was your statement that Miescher suggested that nuclein (equivalent to our DNA) was the active genetic material of sperm. This really is incorrect. Miescher
mentioned the possibility that nuclein is the genetic material and firmly rejected it.  This role for nuclein was in 1881, 1882 and 1884 clearly advanced by Zacharias*, Sachs and Hertwig. Miescher opposed the idea.  At the time that E. B. Wilson mentioned this role for nuclein it was generally accepted in Germany. The early
experiments and thoughts concerned with the role of nuclein in heredity form an interesting episode in the history of genetics. I wish it had found a place in your chapter. That was all I had in mind.
Ever yours,
Alfred E. Mirsky
* Zacharias was the person who first showed that DNA is located in chromosomes.