STANFORD UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER 
DEPARTMENT OF GENETICS 
September 5, 1980 
Dr. William Gartland 
Chief Officer, Recombinant DNA Activities 
National Institutes of Health 
Building 31, Room 4A-52 
Bethesda, MD 20205 
Dear Dr. Gartland: 
I am writing in strong support of the changes in registration 
requirements for recombinant DNA experiments proposed by Dr. Maxine 
Singer and published in the Federal Register of August 21, 1980. 
I believe that the changes proposed by Dr. Singer are consistent with 
the level of our current understanding and knowledge about recombinant 
DNA research. Institutional biosafety committees clearly seem able to 
operate as independent review groups, and the laboratory practices set 
forth in the Guidelines have now become part of the standard operating 
procedures of laboratories working in the field. In other fields of 
biological research, safety procedures are implemented entirely at the 
local level, even when known biohazards are involved. It is no longer 
necessary to have a unique multi-level system in an area where seven 
years of extensive experience has shown the absence of a unique hazard. 
The proposed changes would do much to place things in proper perspective. 
I urge the approval of Dr. Singer's proposal. 
DEPARTMENT OF GENETICS, STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, STANFORD, CALIFORNIA 94305 • (415) 497-5052 
Professor 
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