MINUTES OF MEETING - March 6-7 
9 
Section III-O specify the use of poorly mobilizable plasmid vectors. 
Dr. Gottesman noted that most researchers are currently using poorly 
mobilizable vectors and that specifying use of these plasmids in the 
Guidelines would not appreciably change the status quo. She stated 
that implementing this proposal would raise additional questions. Who 
would determine whether a given plasmid is poorly mobilizable? What 
procedures and experiments would be required? As the incorporation 
of this language into Section III-O would entail several procedural 
difficulties. Dr. Gottesman recommended that Dr. Levy's proposal not 
be adopted. She suggested instead that a footnote be included in the 
Guidelines. Dr. Campbell agreed, saying that the Guidelines encourage 
researchers to use the host-vector system providing the highest contain- 
ment when these systems are equally appropriate for the purposes of the 
experiment. 
^ ^ en moved to reject Dr. Levy's suggestion and instead to 
add the following footnote to Section III-O. 
A subset of non— conjugative plasmid vectors are also poorly 
^ki liz^ble (e.g., pBR322, pBR313). Where practical, these 
vectors should be employed." 
The motion was carried by a vote of eleven in favor, none opposed, and 
five abstentions. 
VIII. PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF SECTION III-O 
Dr. Baltimore said that tab 824 (843/2) is a letter frcm Dr. Kent Wilcox 
of the Medical College of Wisconsin suggesting that the term "eukaryotic 
protein m Section III-O is ambiguous. Et. Wilcox suggests that the 
^®^-®vant section of III-O be amended to read as follows: 
"* * *An exception, hcwever, which does require prior review 
and approval by the IBC is any experiment in which there is 
a deliberate attempt to have the E. coli K-12 efficiently 
express as a protein the information carried in any gene 
derived either from a eukaryotic organism or from any virus 
or viroid which infects a eukaryotic organism.* * *" 
Dr. Baltimore said the proposed language is more precise. He questioned 
the inclusion of "viroids" in this language, but felt that the term could 
be included for the sake of completeness. He moved acceptance of the 
proposal as suggested by Dr. Wilcox. 
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