Dr. Donald Frederlckson 
Bethesda, Maryland 
Decertwr 12, 1979 
Page 2 
hazardous- 
Furthermore, the 
biologists engaged In such research can easily obtain their DMA sample 
fro* readily available sources. Once Isolated, DMA from human sources 
can be distinguished fro* bacterial DMA only by sophisticated and 
expensive tests which could not be readily performed by a government 
Inspector. 
Magy other exaagiles could be dted to show that It would be child's 
play For research workers to frustrate the Intent of regulatory 
legislation. What It bolls down to Is that a government Inspector 
has no choice but to believe the labels on the bottles! 
What, then Is to be done to minimize the potential hazards and to 
maximize the potential benefits of recoadrinant DMA research? To the 
greatest extent possible, control of such research should be carried 
out at the local level by coamrittees of scientific workers elected by 
their peers. I know fro* personal experience on laboratory safety 
coamrittees that peer pressure Is a far more effective way to correct 
aberrant and dangerous practices than ukases sent down from above. 
For this reason, I strongly endorse the decentralization of control 
over experiments using the E. coll K- 12 Host- Vector systems as 
outlined In section III-O, p 69218 of the Federel Register. 
It Is understandable that the Federal Gove r nm e nt should be feeling 
considerable pressure to do someth 1 nq to control the oenle of genetic 
engineering. I Just hope that whatever action Is taken will place as 
much as possible of the responsibility for control where It rightfully 
belongs - on the shoulders of the scientists who are equipped by 
training and t e mp e ram e nt to understand the Issues Involved and *d»o, 
like the vast aajorlty of the h»»»an race, earnestly desire that the 
world will remain a liveable place for their children. 
Sincerely, / 
.//LjL( ; J* 
Michael Lltt, Ph. D. 
Professor of Biochemistry and 
Medical Genetics 
Ml:pb 
cc: Fred Blattner 
[ 457 ] 
