Scientific American Book

An uncompleted project, also referred to as "the DNA book."

In a letter of 9 March, 1978, Crick describes the project to Edmund H Immergut of Scientific American: "The plan of the book deserves a few words of explanation. Part I starts at the protein level and progresses from there towards DNA replication. This is supposed to give the reader all the general ideas he needs in a simple form, so that he has a framework in which to put further knowledge. Part II retraces the steps, going now from DNA to protein. The aim is to sketch some of the complications which have been left out of Part I, to outline problems which are now being worked on and to mention some future problems...." However, Crick admits "I should confess that I have still not finally made up my mind whether I want to write the book, mainly because of the time it will take .... As I shall be, at the same time, reading a lot of neurobiology I have some doubts if I can fit it all in."

Despite doubts, considerable portions of the text were completed.