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Tall 8vo. 3 figs., 10 tables, refs., pencil notation on fig. 3 (presumably by DeMars). Self-wraps; two rusted (original) staples, slight stain from rust. Signature of Robert DeMars and author's name notation on cover. Fine. [with:] WATSON, James Dewey. The Properties of X-Ray-Inactivated Bacteriophage. II. Inactivation by Indirect Effects. Offprint: Journal of Bacteriology, Vol. 63, No. 4, pp. 473-485, April 1952. 3 figs., 6 tables, refs. Self-wraps; two rusted (original) staples, slight stain from rust. Signature of Robert DeMars and author's name notation on cover. Fine. FIRST EDITION(s) of James D. Watson's first published research papers, in support of his doctoral candidacy, dealing with inactivation of T2 bacteriophage with X-Rays. Luria and Dulbecco had previously discovered (1949) that bacteriophage could be inactivated by ultraviolet irradiation, and in this paper Watson describes similar effects obtained by X-Ray exposure. A result of this investigation was that the required "killing" dosage or "hits" is logarithmically related to the intensity of the exposure, unlike ultraviolet irradiation. Through a sophisticated technique using heat-inactivated E. coli, Watson was able to measure the adsorptive capacities of various T-phages and postulate the damage done to a phage's ability to adsorb and infect a host bacterium, resulting in subsequent lysis. In his second paper, Watson demonstrates the indirect effect of "hyperprotection" of X-Ray inactivated phage by concentrations of cysteine. "The struggle in the spring of 1950 was 'to write up minor results' for his thesis. He thought of it as 'torture.' He wrote the thesis in a month, but Salva 'did not like is' and took it home for rewriting. 'Not surprisingly,' Watson recalled, 'the thesis was accepted without fuss at my Ph.D. exam in late May.' He later reflected that he got his degree fast, 'not because I was really that bright, but because there was very much less to learn.'" [McElheny]. Provenance: Robert DeMars' copies of these papers. As the third graduate student mentored by Salvador Luria, DeMars went on to positions at Washington University (St. Louis) and the University of Wisconsin (Madison). His genetic research also involved investigations using strains of T bacteriophage. As a personal friend and colleague of the author, Watson gave copies of all his papers to DeMars as they were published. McElheny, Watson and DNA Making a Scientific Revolution, pp. 25-28. Seller Inventory # SS13435
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Bibliographic Details
Title: The Properties of X-Ray-Inactivated ...
Publisher: Journal of Bacteriology, Vol. 60, No. 6, pp. 697-718, December 1950., Offprint:
Publication Date: 1950
Binding: Soft cover
Edition: 1st Edition
