5 
Lapp& 
The bald fact Is that there is probably no more Inappropriate 
organism to use than E. coll for such work. It readily exchanges 
DNA with other bacteria, and Is Intimately associated with humans 
and other living things throughout the biota of tne planet. 
Conversion of the present strains of E. coll into a less 
viable form (K12) and the most likely phage vehicle into a more 
fragile organism (EKL2 host-vector) was an afterthought following the 
first Berg declaration. There Is no assurance that this conversion Is In 
fact an adequate safety precaution , nor Is there any reference to pre- 
vious experience to make such "Judgment" acceptable. One Is reminded 
of the attempt to use Serratla marascens as a genetically "innocuous" 
trace organism for the early aerosol biological warfare research, 
only to find that it produced a pneumonia with clinically serious 
complications. Only a few experiments to test the Innocuousness 
of EK-12 have been performed, and these under only the most normal 
conditions. The conditions xmder which accidents occur are notable 
for their non-normality. 
The only valid calculus of benefits and risks Is one which 
recognizes that in the entirely new realm of recombinant DMA research, 
both the prospects for beneficial application and for biological dis- 
aster remain undetermined. The public then has a right to be asked what 
rlska It would be willing to accept In the face of such uncertain benefits. 
This Issue was never Joined. The range of responsibility In the face 
of unforeseen risks Is only recently being explored. Traditionally, 
Appendix K — 14 
