1 - PASADENA // USA // 1952-08-14 - MR DIRECTOR, AUGUST 14, 1952
Mr. Director,
As requested, I am keeping you abreast of Dr. Pauling's latest findings. Please find an article slated for PNAS (enclosed) which proposes a structural model for deoxyribonucleic acid.
I will spare you the details but you will find his triple-helix model, made of three intertwined strands of DNA, to be highly elegant. It rivals his earlier work on protein structure.
I believe Abstergo Chemicals should pay special attention to the evolution of DNA science as it will likely unlock the very secrets of life. Please note I would be more than willing to play a more direct role to encourage Dr. Pauling's research efforts if you wish me to.
In the meantime, I wanted to thank you for trusting me with the business of the Foundation. I am honoured to facilitate the work of such brilliant scientists.
Kind regards,
Clinton B. Rosenburg, Ph.D.
2 - CAMBRIDGE // UK // 1952-12-30 - MR DIRECTOR, DECEMBER 30, 1952
Mr. Director,
Thank you so much for your kind praises. Rest assured, I did not miss your veiled reference to a potential research position within your company when last we met at the fundraiser. I just find my current work at the Foundation more significant than my personal scientific ambitions. Please know that I appreciate your interest in my career.
As per your instructions, I provided Dr. Watson and Cricks' team with the X-Ray crystallography data from Dr. Franklin. Of course, I made sure nothing could be traced back to the Foundation.
This new data and their own findings have yielded a bold proposal: they posit that the structure of DNA is a double-helix one. They plan to use it to invalidate Pauling's triple-helix model in an upcoming article in Nature.
I am thoroughly unconvinced their model is the correct one. I know one shouldn't depend too much on intuition when it comes to science, but I believe we should encourage our sponsored scientists to push research in the triple-helix model further.
Please find enclosed a budget proposal that would allow us to support both types of research while meeting our objectives.
I remain your most devoted servant,
Clinton B. Rosenburg, Ph.D.
3 - CHICAGO // USA // 1962-04-09 - MR DIRECTOR, APRIL 9, 1962
Mr. Director,
It is with great regret, but probably no great surprise to you, that I write this letter of resignation. Heading the Foundation these last few years was an exhilarating challenge. I feel our support and guidance played a crucial role ushering in a new age in biochemistry.
I must however come to terms with the new direction you wish to give to the Foundation. It does not fit with my own vision of keeping the broadest possible agenda, especially in light of Abstergo Pharmaceuticals' decision to focus exclusively on double-helix DNA.
As per our recent conversation, I am aware that I might not see “the whole picture” and this might indeed be the time for new leadership.
This is why I chose to follow your suggestion and accept the position of senior scientist with your company's Molecular biology R&D department. I trust your “open door” policy will remain in effect. I look forward to showing you some of my plans to demonstrate the existence of other stable forms of DNA.
Kind regards,
Clinton B. Rosenburg, Ph.D.
4 - BOISE // USA // 1969-06-23 - MR DIRECTOR, JUNE 23, 1969
Mr. Director,
I know you and I have had our disagreements in the past, especially with what you consider my “undue obsession” with triple-helix DNA, but my loyalty to you has been nothing if not exemplary. I feel you have unfairly dismissed all my research proposals these last years.
I ask you to reconsider your latest decision to have my research funds drastically cut and force me to move my lab to Boise. I can't believe Abstergo Pharmaceuticals wants to force me to focus on this completely ridiculous idea that the key to unraveling the secrets of genes lies in studying enzymes found in bacteria isolated from Yellowstone's hot springs. This is madness and a horrendous waste of resources!
I really appreciate everything you've done for me. I know I would not have remained here as long without your constant support. It hasn't escaped my notice that my influence within the R&D department has been on the decline for the last few years. I can't shake the feeling that you might have had a part in this.
I know that I have been unable to obtain solid evidence that DNA exists in a triple helix structure but I am still convinced the scientific community is ignoring something of fundamental importance. Like I have told you many times, absence of evidence does not necessarily translate to evidence of absence.
In the meantime, I will look into the papers you have sent me about this polymerase enzyme that people at the University of Cincinnati are getting so excited about.
I thank you in advance,
Clinton B. Rosenburg, Ph.D.
5 - ROCHESTER // USA // 1976-01-12 - MR DIRECTOR, JANUARY 12, 1976
Mr. Director,
What the hell is happening here? You've stopped answering my messages and I was made to understand, very clearly, that I was not to “bother” you anymore. Furthermore, my security clearance no longer grants me the freedoms and accesses it used to. This is truly sad. I wanted to share with you the most amazing discovery we've had in our DNA sequencing laboratories to date.
It turns out Taq polymerase, that enzyme purified from hot springs bacteria, has allowed us to push forward DNA sequencing into a new era of performance. We're already far ahead of all other public and private laboratories in terms of throughput and data fidelity.
In fact, we're already years ahead of Dr. Watson's dream of mapping the human genome. Results are very promising, although we are likely many years away from completion. I know this is the kind of information that is of interest to you.
That being said, I wanted to tell you first hand that we've finally found solid evidence of triple-helix DNA. I can picture you rolling your eyes at this, but please have a look at the preliminary data.
I will reproduce the trial and will show you all that I was right!
Clinton B. Rosenburg, Ph.D.
6 - ROCHESTER // USA // 1978-04-24 - MR. DIRECTOR, APRIL 24, 1978
Mr. Director,
I'm sick and tired of all these condescending notes I'm getting from your office. I've never shown anything but loyalty to you and I've always done what was asked on me regardless of my personal agenda. I don't deserve this. And if that wasn't enough, my career keeps nose diving.
I'm being punished for being a free thinker, maybe the last one around here.
I know I wasn't able to ever reproduce my triple-helix results, but I don't think that was worth serial demotions. But who cares if I'm right or wrong anymore? The Abstergo monster has chewed me up and spat me out.
I'm now stuck in a corner of the company's sequencing lab. I can't do research anymore. All I've got left is babysitting a bunch of uppity technicians and rooms filled with “bleeding edge” machinery.
You keep sending me new “toys” every other week or so, as if I could be pacified with technology. No one will ever accuse our great and benevolent corporation of lacking focus and resources. I once thought it would take years to sequence a whole human genome, we can routinely do one a month now… When I don't get interrupted with insulting busywork from that lab in Italy.
I must keep our “masters” happy, I suppose.
I thought you were my friend, I never imagined that you would be the one to take the first bite.
Clinton B. Rosenburg, Ph.D.
7 - ROCHESTER // USA // 1984-12-18 - MR DIRECTOR, DECEMBER 18, 1984
Mr. Director,
I don't know if you're still a part of Abstergo. Sometimes, when I get lost in “senior moments”, I wonder if you ever existed at all. I'm just so tired. I think my time here is coming to an end.
We're sequencing whole genomes in a matter of weeks now. We're under phenomenal pressure to reduce delays further and ship everything to this man Vidic. We truly are nothing more than an assembly line at this point. What a waste.
I'm not stupid you know, even this old man has realized our masters are after something of utmost importance hidden in the Human genome. They spare no expense to provide my kids with the most advanced technology to increase productivity.
Like everyone here, I've heard the most preposterous rumours about Vidic's Animus project, that memories of someone's ancestors are encoded in one's genes. That Abstergo believes that claptrap explains why so many millions of dollars keep pouring in here. It just makes no sense!
And to top it off, I never found another sample with triple-helix DNA. My life's obsession was all for naught.
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