15 
of knowledge, specifically, the understanding of genetic mechanisms. A1 
though there are able scientists v;ho have expressed disdain 
for the Guidelines, which they consider overly stringent, it 
is fairly certain that there will be sincere compliance V7ith 
them by scientists supported by NIH or NSF. 
However, it is my contention that the motives for under- 
taking a particular line of research and development in an 
industrial lab should properly be questioned by the public, 
for they may well have bearing on the way the work is to be 
carried out. In general, a drug company develops a pharma- 
ceutical, or a product to sell it to the public and to make 
a profit. There is considerable pressure to get it to a 
marketable stage as soon as possible — the fear that a compe- 
titor will get there first or the belief that the sooner 
a product is sold, the sooner will profits be realized. 
While someone engaged in basic research can afford to spend 
the extra time and effort necessary to conduct recom.binant 
DNA experiments according to the Guidelines, there is little 
question that it would be much faster to conduct a particular 
set of experiments without having to worry about stringent 
safety precautions. It could be very tempting indeed for a 
company to be less careful than the Guidelines require, if it 
meant obtaining a patent potentially worth millions of dollars 
before a competitor. 
Appendix K — 69 
