NOV 1 4 1968

THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
MEDICAL SCHOOL

TELEPHONE:
COPS, CIR: Aeris er

November LO, 1966

4 ha Peerage cteyed .
Be. Wabberv gochace

Sonavrrsat ob Cenettes
hasere Gaye LEA yg ey

Palo Alto, California

  

Dear Walter:

I am writing concerning a matter which Josh may have already mentioned to you.
As you know, the two of us are serving on a panel of the NAS concerned with "Biology
and the Future of Man." As you may also know, amongst the various charges of this
panel has been to look at some of Dr. Shockley's recent statements. Finally, what
you may not know is that the National Academy is holding its Autumn, 1967, meetings
here on this campus, October 23-25. As a member of the planning committee, I have
been given the responsibility of developing one of the four symposia. After some
thought, it appears that we might serve a useful purpose by sponsoring a symposium
under the general title: "Genetic Implications of Demographic Trends: What do we
Know?" As currently vigualized, there will be an opening paper which Jim Crow has
agreed to give, on "Gene Pools and Rates of Genetic Change Under Selection." The
next paper will deal with Patterns of Survival and Reproduction in the Unites States-
-Past, Present and Future,"%.which Dudley Kirk has just agreed to give. I propose to
give the third paper myself, "The Demography of Primitive Man," hoping to bring out
the striking demographic differences between primitive and civilized man, against the
background of which socioeconomic or educational differentials as they now exist are
rather small. Next would follow a very difficult paper on "Some Possible Genetic
Consequences of U. S. Differential Fertility." This has to be done in the right way
by the right person; I just approached Dr. Curt Stern on this. Finally, we have in
mind a paper on the topic: "Can Census and Related Data’ be Adapted to the Detection
of Genetic Trends?" There is no one who has recently given this matter more thought
than yourself and who could give a better presentation,

As you are aware, this general topic is a much roasted chestnut, and I wouldn't
propose to undertake it were it not that I think we can put it in a better light
today than ever before. I would anticipate that the symposium would be published
in the Proceedings of the National Academy; this might be a rather useful. set of
“position papers," referred to by a variety of sources. Accordingly, I do hope
that you can see your way clear to working up that last topic. I would much rather
get your slant on it than that of Howard Newcombe, which has been adequately
represented in recent years

Best regards,
if

< * —

James V. Neel, M.D.