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ROCHE INSTITUTE OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 
Nutley, New Jersey 07110 
December 13, 1979 
Dr. Donald Fredrickson, Director 
National Institutes of Health 
Bethesda, Md. 20014 
Dear Dr. Fredrickson: 
I again write in support of adoption of the proposed changes in the 
NIH recombinant DNA guidelines as now published in the Friday, Nov. 30, 
1979 issue of the Federal Register. The changes suggested, especially 
those relating to E coli K12 containment, are long overdue as recommendations 
from your own Advisory Committee, others such as COGENE's in which I have 
been a participant, and the scientific community as a whole demonstrate. 
I would also like to express my concern at the manner in which these 
changes are being implemented. There has already been extensive dis- 
cussion and opportunity for public comment on this matter. Your specially 
constituted Advisory Committee, which includes expert scientists and repre- 
sentatives of a wide spectrum of interest, has approved these changes, and 
your own decision document outlines your support. 
It is difficult to see how these further delays have been justified. 
On the other hand, they have had serious negative effects on the morale of 
scientists in the U.S. and elsewhere. There is much to be lost if the NIH 
loses credibility in its capacity to deal reasonably in this area. 
Yours truly, 
A. M. Skalka, Ph.D. 
Department of Cell Biology 
AMS: jdp 
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