■ qV-LECE Of 
Baylor College of Medicine 
DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY • 713 790-4472 
Influenza Research Center • 713 790-4469 
Immunology Section • 713 790-3127 
December 12, 1979 
•fOUCATlO** 
Dr. Donald Fredrickson 
Director, National Institutes of Health 
Bethesda, MD 20014 
Dear Dr. Fredrickson: 
Subject: Comment on Recombinant DNA Guidelines 
Federal Register, November 30, 1979 
We have reviewed the proposed guidelines of the date above 
and wish to express agreement with the changes indicated 
there. In particular. Section III-O describing experiments 
with E. coli K- 12 host vector systems represents a realistic 
and safe modification of some of the previous regulations. 
The benefits of this new technology have such promise that 
to belabor them with excessive restrictions is inappropriate. 
We wish to express our confidence in the good judgment and 
scientific qualifications of the committee that has made 
these decisions. The enormous effort in preparing these 
guidelines in the interest of all of us should earn high 
praise. We foresee further reduction in the level of regu- 
lation of recombinant DNA study. 
Sincerely yours, 
Vernon Knight, M.u. 
Professor and Chairman 
VK lo 
[458] 
TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER • HOUSTON, TEXAS 77030 
