September 10, 1980 
THE ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY 
1230 YORK AVENUE • NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10021 
Dr. Donald S. Fredrickson, Director 
Office of Recombinant DNA activities 
Bldg. 31 , Room 4A52 
National Institutes of Health 
Bethesda, MD 20205 
Maxine Singer's initiative (Fed. Reg., Aug. 21, 1980) 
to have the NIH Guidelines fall primarily under local control is 
both wise and timely. Decisions about scientific research are 
best left to the investigators both for efficiency and as a 
matter of fundamental principle. Only in exigency should this 
ideal be violated. Perhaps we've passed through such an occasion 
with R-DNA research. However, it is now the time to return to a 
more normal situation. Since work with recombinant DNA has proven 
to be very safe and very important, dual review at the national 
and local levels serves no good purpose. 
As one involved from the beginning in the R-DNA issue. 
I've always felt that the "Guidelines" should be guidelines; 
they turned into regulations. With the proposed change they will 
revert and also the unfortunate quasi -regulatory role that the NIH 
has had to play will begin to disappear. 
I can think of no reason for not dispensing with the MUAs. 
I hope that you will be able to institute this welcome change. 
Dear Don: 
Y< ' sly. 
Norton D. Zinder 
[ 303 ] 
