Ludwig, W. 1942. Agrometeorological population genetic

Ludwig, W. 1942. Agrometeorological population genetic contemplation. Unpublished
poem by Wilhelm Ludwig, sent to Charlotte Boost ca. 1942.
TRANSLATION
Janis Antonovics
[Handwritten in top corner:]
G. N. v. D.
[hier übl. Abkürzung fürs "Geheim. Nur v(f?)ür Dienstgebraüch"
The above abbreviation is probably: "Secret. Only for use by recipient"]
(Aus dem Auerbachs Keller, Berlin SW9, Gitschinerstr.)
(from the Auerbach's Cellar, Berlin SW9, Gitschiner Street)
Agrarmeteorologisch-populationsgenetische Betrachtung.
Agrometeorological-population genetic contemplation
von
by
W.L. (z. Z. auf einem Fliegerhorst.)
Wilhelm Ludwig (At present on a military airbase)
Frl. Dr. Boost zum Abschluss ihres 1. Referendarinnenhalbjahres gewidmet.
(for Miss Dr. Boost dedicated to finishing her first half year of her teacher's training)
(Kenntnis meiner "Höhlenarbeit" Voraussetzung)
(acknowledgement of my "cave work" publication)
[Refers probably to Ludwig, W. 1942 . Zur evolutorischen Erklärung der Höhlentiermerkmale
durch Allelelimination. Biologisches Zentralblatt 62, 447-455.]
Mit 1 Abbildung im Text
With one illustration in the text
Vermutlich kann mein "Typ" wohl gelten,
Als bei der Wehrmacht ziemlich selten.
Presumably my "type" can astound
As seldom ' tis in the Wehrmacht found
Die Häufigkeit hierfür sein q,
Dir Rate der Enstehung u.
Its frequency here is q
With a mutation rate of u
Das Gen dazu sei rezessiv,
Sein Selektionswert negative (!). -
Additionally recessive is the gene
Its selective value negative
Dann ist, sofern man weiss Bescheid,
Nach den Betrachtungen von WRIGHT,
Then as far as one knows for sure
After the considerations of Wright
q-1 gleich Wurzel minus s durch u,……….q-1=√ (-s/u)
Und, wer, gebildet, überschlägt im Nu:
the inverse of q equals the square root of s divided by u
and, who educated is, estimates it an instant.
Bei s = -1 und u sehr klein
Muss (wie vorausgesetzt) auch q sehr niedrig sein:if s is minus one and u very small
q also (as explained before) must be very low
Jedoch - so fern es EUCH beliebt,
Mein einstmals (!) EUCH gesandtes Manuskript
However, in so far as it pleases you,
The manuscript I once sent you
Betreffend "Höhlen" doch (!) gelegentlich (!) zu lesen,
IHR werdet finden, dass dort wesenConcerning indeed caves occasionally to read
You will discover that there essentially
Tlich andres gilt. So kann sum Beispiel Meinesgleichen
Dort ganz enorme Häufigkeit erreichen,
Other things apply. So for example types like me
There can reach quite enormous frequency
Allein auf Grund der Formeln FISHER-WRIGHT.
(Dass solches zutrifft weiss ich wohl Bescheid.)
Simply on the basis of Fisher-Wrights formulas.
(That such is true I know for certain.)
Da ferner ich und auch die andren faktisch
Sind ganz erheblich negativ kasernotaktisch
For moreover me and also the others actually
Are quite extensively negatively barrack-o-tactic.
Und ausserdem - gottlob! Noch spuren weise frontophob,
And as well as that, thank God
With traces of front-o-phobia
Ist, wie in meinem Manuskript
Sich Abschnitt Römisch III ergibt,
It is as is stated in my manuscript
On Section Roman numerals three
(Gleichfalls auf grund von WRIGHT)
Die Maximalwahrscheindlichkeit,
Similarly on the basis of Wright
The maximum probability
Dass ich das Reichsamt oder Ahnliches verlasse,
Voraussichtlich gering. Und das beruhigt mich.
That I leave the government office or something similar
is presumably small. And that comforts me.
Ganz ausserordentlich.Ist dieses nicht ein veritable Beispiel für die Kraft
Quite remarkably
Is this not a veritable example for the power
Der sogenannten - wenn auch von IHNEN oft verkannten - angewandten-Wissenschaft?
Of the so-called - of often underestimated by you - the applied sciences.
Literatur:
1) "Elegie" Archiv Seebenstr. 1 (1942a)
2) "Schwerer Entschluss" Herres Archiv 1 (1942b)
More poetic (?) version.
It seems my "type" can quite astound
As in the Wehrmacht it is rarely found
Its frequency there is a humble q
With a mutation rate an even lower u.
Indeed the gene for this is quite recessive
With a selective value well in the negative.
Then as far as one can deduce with delight
Using the big equations of Sewall Wright,
The inverse of q equals the square root of s over u
For an intelligent man, it's then true
That if s is less than one and u is small
Then q itself to a low level must fall.
However, you might be delighted to know,
In the manuscript I once sent you to show,
Concerning caves, if you actually did read,
You will discover that there essentially indeed
Quite other rules apply. Types like me
Can reach enormously high frequency
Simply from Fisher and Wright's stochasticity.
(Which I know for certain is true as can be.)
I and the others in this terrible duplicity
Have strongly negative barrack taxicity.
And as well as that, thank God almightier,
It is tinged with traces of front-o-phobia.
It is as is stated in my manuscript you see
In section Roman numerals three
That on the basis of Wright
The maximum probability
That I leave the government tonight
is small, which comforts me.
Quite remarkably
Is this not a true example of the power
Of the applied sciences - oft discounted by you - and their useful applicability