May 21-23 - MINLTTES OF MEETING 
14 
XI. PROPOSED EXEMPTION FOR EXPERIMENTS INVOLVING EK1 AND EK2 
HOST-VECTOR SYSTEMS 
The RAC discussed at length the following proposed exemption under 
I-E-5 that had appeared for comment in the April 13, 1979 Federal 
Register : 
"Those recombinant DNA molecules that are 
propagated in E. coli K-12 hosts not 
containing conjugation-proficient plasmids 
or generalized transducing phages, when 
lambda or lambdoid bacteriophages or 
noncon j ugat ive plasmids are used as 
vectors, are exempt from the Guidelines." 
Dr. Rowe, a co-author of the proposal, said that he wanted to raise 
the issue for discussion. He had sent the RAC extensive background 
documents regarding the use of E. ooli K-12 in recombinant DNA research. 
Dr. Rowe cited factors which would be involved in a scenario leading 
frcm escape of an organism from a research laboratory to the production 
of a deleterious effect. Some of these factors are under the influence 
of human behavior, and some are independent of human behavior. He 
stated that no escape of an organism frcm a laboratory has been known 
to lead to establishment of the organism in the conmunity. Dr. Campbell 
read frcm a prepared statement on further revisions of the Guidelines 
that was distributed to RAC members at the meeting (Attachment V). 
Dr. Novick said that the data on E:. coli K-12 make him less concerned 
about the possibility of a hazardous accident. He said, however, that 
he was not prepared to abandon all Guidelines. He proposed that most 
experiments be reduced to PI containment with increased authority 
delegated to the IBCs. Further, he said that currently exempted 
experiments should have been reduced to PI rather than totally exempted 
frcm the Guidelines. Dr. Baltimore said that he would prefer proposing 
that it is expected that safe microbiological procedures be used as 
codified by PI procedures. Dr. Novick said that he would prefer that 
there be IBC involvement if the proposal is recommended favorably. 
Dr. Gottesman said that the proposal is useful for discussion, although 
she cannot support it at this time. She said that the major untested 
hazard scenario is the question of antigenicity, particularly with regard 
to exported proteins. Dr. Rowe said that he supports registering IBCs, 
but not projects. Dr. Kutter suggested that experiments that require 
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