May 21-23 - MINUTES OF MEETING 
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strains for the same experiments for which F3 is required for modified 
strains. It was pointed out that the organism has only a small ecological 
niche and that it is a nonpathogenic organise. 
The RAC then recommended the use of unmodified laboratory strains of 
N. crassa as published in the Federal Register of April 13, 1979, by a 
vote of 11 to 2, with 5 abstentions. It was the sense of the RAC that 
the principle of equivalency of HV systems with EK systems applies at 
the present time only to the setting of contaiament levels for shotgun 
experiments. It does not apply at the present time to lowering of 
containment levels for character! zed or purified DNA preparations and 
clones, to returning DNA segments to non-HVl host of origin, etc. 
XXV. PROPOSED EXEMPTION UNDER I-E-5 FOR CLONING IN TISSUE CULTURE CELLS 
The RAC considered a proposal for exempting experiments involving the 
propagation of reccmbinant ENA molecules from non-viral components in 
tissue culture cells. The proposal, made by Dr. Wallace Rowe, appeared 
in the April 13, 1979 Federal Register as follows: 
"Those reccmbinant DNA molecules that are 
propagated in cells in tissue culture and 
that are derived entirely frcm non-viral 
components (that is, no component is 
derived from, a eukaryotic virus) or that 
contain no more than one- fourth of the 
genome of a eukaryotic virus are exopt 
from the Guidelines." 
During the 30-day period for comment, one comment was received on the 
proposed action. This commentator opposed the motion on the grounds that 
the introduction of reccmbinant DNA molecules linked even to only one- 
fourth of a viral genome in tissue culture cells may possibly generate 
altered endogenous or exogenous viruses in the cells. 
The RAC considered this proposal following a discussion of its merits 
by Dr. Rowe. It was pointed out that tissue culture cells are well 
contained and safe systems for studying gene function. Drs. Kutter 
and Novick said that they did not support an exemption for these 
experiments, but rather proposed a requirement for PI containment 
and registration. Dr. Baltimore said that the reccmbinant DNA aspect 
will not introduce any additional hazard beyond working with the cells 
in culture. Dr. Campbell asked whether these experiments aren't already 
exempted under I-E-l since he does not consider a cultured cell to be 
an organism. 
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