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things. They were afraid that the myth of ascetic scientific research might be destroyed by Watson's uninhibited narrative. For he says quite bluntly that he owed his success mainly to the preliminary studies and mistakes of his colleagues. A spectacular event took place in America in December 1967. President Lyndon B. Johnson personally announced a great scientific achievement at a press conference in these words: 'This will be one of the most interesting articles you have, ever read. An awe-inspiring achievement! It opens the door to new discoveries, to the disclosure of the fundamental secrets of life.’ Scientists of Stanford University at Palo Alto, California, had succeeded in synthesising the biologically active nucleus of a virus. Following the genetic pattern of a type of virus called Phi X 174, they had constructed from nucleotides one of the giant DNA molecules that control all vital processes. The Stanford University scientists put artificial virus nuclei into host cells. The artificial viruses developed just like natural ones. Parasites that they are, they bullied the host cells into producing millions of new viruses following the pattern of Phi X 174. Just as happens in an organism attacked by a virus infection, the artificial viruses burst through the host cells once they had used up their vital energy. Obeying the orders given by the DNA molecule, the cells produced millionfold combinations of protein molecules from amino acids. Each new combination corresponded exactly to the programmed sample. The Californian scientists calculated that only one 'genetic misprint’ occurred in the creation of one hundred million new cells. Barely fifteen years after the explanation of the DNA structure by Watson, Crick and Wilkins, an important scientific discovery was made. The Nobel prizewinner Professor Kornberg and his colleagues succeeded in deciphering thousands of combinations of the genetic code for the virus Phi X 174. They had produced life in the laboratory in California. Many readers will ask what these biochemical digressions have to do with the theme of my book? I have followed these investigations with keen interest ever since they were first reported. Why? The conclusions reached convinced me that they had logical consequence, which Sir Bernard Lovell, founder and Director of the radiotelescope station at Jodrell Bank, formulated as follows: In the last two years it seems that the discussion of the question whether life exists outside our earth has become both serious and important. The seriousness of the discussion is a consequence of current scientific views, according to which the development of our solar system and of organic life on earth In the summer of 1969 Physical Review Letters announced that American scientists, using the radiotelescope at Green Bank, West Virginia, had proved the existence of formaldehyde in gas and dust clouds in the universe. Formaldehyde, which is used in chemistry as a preservative and What kind of event was so important that the President of the United States took such an interest in it? is probably not a unique case.’