Secretary Patricia Harris 
- 2 - 
November 29, 1979 
The NIH is at present the only institution that stands between the public 
and the hazards of a radically new and largely untested genetic engineering 
technology. Such possibilities as cancer accidentally spread by recombinant 
bacteria have not been ruled out experimentally. Yet the NIH is in the process 
of rejecting a role as a "constituency for the risks", to use Greens' words. 
This will leave the RAC and the NIH Office of Recombinant DNA Activities as 
mere window dressing to soothe public concern, without any meaningful influence 
on public safety. 
In view of the responsibility of your Department toward the public health 
and welfare, I urge you not to approve the recent Guideline changes and to 
direct the NIH to redesign its priorities; or, more logically, to transfer 
responsibility for recombinant DNA regulation to another agency which is not 
also charged with promoting new scientific developments. 
Yours sincerely. 
B. H. Rosenberg, Ph.B"r 
Associate Member 
Associate Professor, Biochemistry, 
Cornell Medical College 
BHR/nc 
cc: R. Nicholas 
F. P. Li bass i 
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