Since T-DNA is the only vector that has been reproducibly shown to be useful for 
plant genetic engineering to date, field testing experience with plants modified by 
these vectors will help scientists gain confidence in the basic and applied research 
potential of plant genetic engineering and in the safety of such work. The long- 
term objective of all of this work is to produce crop plants with properties 
desirable to farmers and consumers. 
Of the various plant vector constructions in use at Agracetus, they propose 
initially to field test Havana 425 tobacco containing T-DNA with a yeast alcohol 
dehydrogenase gene and a bacterial aminoglycoside phosphotransferase gene 
inserted in the cytokinin gene since this is the system with which they have had 
most experience.. 
The NIH has assessed the environmental effect of the proposed field test (see 
below in this Environmental Assessment) and has found that it will not have a 
significant impact on health or the environment. 
2.0 BACKGROUND 
The NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules 
(Guidelines) were first issued on June 23, 1976, and were published in the Federal 
Register on July 7, 1976. The Guidelines were the product of a process of 
scientific and public discussions initiated in 1973 by scientists with concerns about 
the safety of the new recombinant DNA techniques. As stated in the "Decision of 
the Director, National Institutes of Health to Release Guidelines for Research on 
Recombinant DNA Molecules": 
Environmental Assessment 
Page 3 
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