JL letter to Andre Lwoff      dated: 12/14/84
  transcribed from manuscript _990301
relates to his reply, BBAASQ

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Dear Andre:

     Do you by chance keep a diary?

     This is by way of an attempt to reconstruct the day in July 1946
when I presented E. coli K-12 to the Cold Spring Harbor Symposium.

     The preliminary program, enclosed, of course does not foretell
the date, as the presentation was arranged ad hoc.  I have no other
record now but believe that Thursday (or Friday) was the likelier
date.

     The exact date is the smallest of details.  A real windfall if
it existed would be your own memoir of the occasion, whether
contemporary or newly written.  Of course I do recall a spirited
exchange of views for which I was most grateful thence forward.

     My regret is not to reminesce at closer hand.  Perhaps an 
opportunity will yet arise.

                                      All best wishes,

                                      Joshua


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transcribed from manuscript BBAASQ
 _990301

 Andre Lwoff's letter to JL                date: 1/3/85

Dear Joshua:

     Alas I have not followed the illustrious route tread by so many
writers, scientists, generals, politicians etc.  I do not keep I have
never kept a diary.  Sometimes I regret it.  Of course I remember the
1946 Cold Spring Harbor Symposium (it was my first visit to the
States).  In fact the only important scientific event -- the most
spectacular was the announcement of the sexuality of Escherichia coli.
The transmission of characters from bacteria to bacteria was of course
well known: the transforming principle.  But that bacteria were able
to copulate had to my mind never been foreseen.  Somebody, maybe I,
raised the objection that symbiosis between two deficient bacteria
could explain your data but you masterfully eliminated this hypothesis.
Anyhow the fact, bacterial sexuality, was in itself interesting for those
in love with bacteria but I wonder if anyone, except you perhaps, had
realized that the discovery of bacterial copulation would allow the
birth and blooming of molecular biology and genetics during the next
ten years -- an explosive, unpredicted blooming.  This is all I can
say.

     With kind regards.

                                         Andre Lwoff

P.S.  You may use this letter as you wish but please correct the
mistakes concerning my English.