SEPTEMBER 6-7 - MINUTES OF MEETING 
13 
i 
of E. coli from person to person would be very slight. Dr. Novick cited 
results of Dr. Freter dealing with mice fed with E. coli K-12 and caged 
with normal mice. Dr. Novick said that the results indicate that IS. coli 
K-12 can persist. Dr. Burnett raised the problem of false results caused 
by reinfection of the mice by eating feces. 
Mr. Thornton expressed concern that the proposed action, unless it is 
clarified, could be interpreted as a complete exemption, and that it is 
important to indicate that the prohibitions would still be effective. 
It was indicated that a specific statement could be added explaining 
that the prohibitions take precedence over the exemption. Dr. Walters 
said that the prohibitions should be cross-referenced in this section. 
Dr. Williams then moved acceptance of the preposed exemption, as it 
appeared in the Federal Register of July 31, 1979, to be amended to 
include a cross-reference to the prohibitions: 
"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 non- 
con jugative plasmids are used as 
vectors, can be handled at Pi and 
are exempted from the Guidelines." 
The motion was seconded by Dr. Baltimore. 
Dr. Novick proposed an amendment to the motion to include the words "and 
not encoding known biologically active polypeptides" after the word 
"phages" in the motion. Dr. Goldstein seconded the amendment. Dr. Novick 
indicated that the amendment is meant to imply expressed biologically 
active polypeptides. There was discussion as to whether the amendment 
could be phrased more precisely. Dr. Gottesman said that concern about 
active polypeptides raises a very basic question. She said that if the 
data on persistence and establishment are not sufficient, then the RAC 
should not vote for an exemption at this time. She said that, although 
some of the experiments of Drs. Levy and Freter had been done with wild- 
type K-12, many of the experiments had been done with xl 77 6 which is a 
special case, and no one will use xl 77 6 again if the exemption is approved. 
In response to a question. Dr. Gartland estimated that 80 to 85 percent 
of ongoing recombinant DNA research would be exempted by the preposed 
action. Dr. Goldstein expressed concern about the amount of research 
that would be exempted. He also said that there is more than one strain 
of E. coli designated K-12. Dr. Campbell said that he was amazed that 
I 
[ 162 ] 
