E. M. Zimmer Lederberg (only researcher)
Discovery of phage Lambda and Lysogenicity: 1950

Two references are known where Esther M. Lederberg is the first (and only researcher) that discovered phage λ. One is a fairly detailed 1950 paper, difficult to access. (Click here to see the first report of the discovery of lambda, dated December, 1949, and here to see a version of the same report, enhanced for readability.) The other (a 1951 abstract) is the reference usually cited but is very abbreviated (that is what is expected of an abstract). Both of these references may be examined below.

Lederberg, E. M., 1950, "Lysogenicity in Escherichia coli strain K-12",
Microbial Genetics Bulletin, 1, pp. 5-8, Jan. 1950, Univ. of Wisconsin [Evelyn Maisel Witkin, Editor],
Ohio State University, ISSN: 0026-2579, call No. 33-M-4, OCLC: 04079516, Accession Number: AEH8282UW

Lederberg, E. M., 1951, "Lysogenicity in E. coli K-12", Genetics 36:560 (abstract)

As a consequence of Esther Lederberg's development of replica plating (claimed by another researcher, sans evidence), discoveries in genetics occurred rapidly. These discoveries were made so rapidly that it was decided to circulate sheets of paper among all the researchers in the laboratory. Each researcher would write a summary (abstract) or detailed description (paper) of their current work on these sheets. These sheets of paper eventually became the Microbial Genetics Bulletin (MGB). Evelyn Maisel Witkin was one of the researchers, but was assigned responsibility of ensuring that all the researchers in the laboratory wrote up their discoveries. Hence, Evelyn Maisel Witkin was the first "editor" of the Microbial Genetics Bulletin.

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Microbial Genetics Bulletin, Jan. 1950, Cover page Click here if clicking on image fails			Microbial Genetics Bulletin, Jan. 1950, Table of Contents Click here if clicking on image fails
Microbial Genetics Bulletin, Jan. 1950 page 5 (1st page of "Lambda" paper) Click here if clicking on image fails		Microbial Genetics Bulletin, Jan. 1950 page 6 (2nd page of "Lambda" paper) Click here if clicking on image fails		Microbial Genetics Bulletin, Jan. 1950 page 7 (3rd page of "Lambda" paper) Click here if clicking on image fails
Genetics 36:560, 1951 ("Lambda" abstract) Click here if clicking on image fails

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