On Handling the Data, M. I. Mayfield [free ebooks romance novels txt] 📗

white, is that our “Science”—yes, quotes—may be inventing the reality that it is supposedly studying. Inventing the atoms, molecules, cells, nuclei, et cetera … and then describing them, and in the description giving them reality.

While I was at Woods Hole I had some really good bull sessions about this very thing. I realize now that I may have been falling into the trap of solipsism, “who watches the quad,” et cetera, type of thing. Incidentally, my research is finally beginning to fall into shape. My sponsor and I had some pretty good sessions about it, and some of the screwy results I wrote you begin to make sense. I had the good luck to talk to an outstanding man in the field of nucleic acid synthesis and he was quite enthusiastic about the caliber of our work. He feels quite strongly—but has no real evidence—that the synthesis of both types of nucleic acid are independent of each other and has pointed out some significant references that I did not know about. I’m anxious to buckle down and really lick this nucleic acid problem … in time for a June degree.

Cordially,
Jonathan

P.S.

Please send me a reprint of your lecture on “Memory Banks—Transistorized Neurones.” The lecture was ingenious, but there are some biological phenomena with which I don’t agree. Remember, I’m the biologist. Honestly, Doc, don’t you think—entre nous—that your idea that a living organism, can be compared with automata in picking up informational items and processing them simultaneously in parallel, rather than in series, is naif?

J.

October 28, 1958

Dr. R. Von Engen,
Journal of the National Academy of Sciences,
Washington, D. C.

Dear Dr. Von Engen:

I apologize for not answering your letter sooner. I assume you were pulling my leg when you suggested that I make a science-fiction story out of “the confused ideas of a beginning graduate student.” You might [143] give your idea of a “possible science-fiction story” to one of your acolytes that has some small experience in the field of writing—not science. I am afraid that your other suggestions are not germane to the problem of nucleic acid synthesis and metabolism, a problem that has been occupying all my time. In fact, I’ve been doing with three to four hours of sleep these days. With the kind of concentration that I can offer the problem, there is no question that the data are falling into line, and our research is going rather well. We will show, I hope, fairly conclusively that there is little or no interconversion between the two types of nucleic acid synthesis in the cell.

Despite your ingenious mathematical approaches for stimulation criteria, in biological research—a very abstruse field—even your multiplex machines with elaborate means of intercommunication are not sophisticated enough—or ever will be—to cope with the complexities inherent in the numerous interacting biosyntheses on the subcellular ultratopographical level of protoplasm.

Sincerely yours,
Jonathan Wells

November 8, 1958

The Editor,
Journal of the National Academy of Sciences,
Washington, D. C.

My dear Professor Von Engen:

From the tenor of your last letter it is quite evident that there has been a radical change in your originally sound and inspired ideas, and which clearly indicates to me that a discussion and exchange of basic concept would be fruitless. I’m rather hurt that you question my integrity with the statement about the “slick, calculating, career-minded cult of Ph. Deism.” Moreover, I would appreciate, if possible, the return of my previous correspondence.

I don’t feel that I am totally inept, for I have been awarded a predoctoral fellowship that will support me during the remainder of graduate school. In addition, I am being seriously considered for a faculty position at an outstanding Eastern University upon completion of my thesis. Should you be interested, we now have an article in press on the Journal of Cellular Physiology entitled: “Nucleic acid synthesis in the frog liver cell: A definitive study.” We have found substantial evidence which demonstrates that there is no interconversion of the two types of nucleic acid.

I cannot help but comment about your recent paper in Scientia—I do not believe that it is at all possible to devise computers which can handle the species of data which we obtain. Your data being less complex, of course, may fit.

Naturally, I have your confidence in the entire matter.

Yours very truly,
J. Wellington Wells