ROCHE INSTITUTE OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 
Nutley, New Jersey 07110 
December 14, 1979 
Dr. Donald S. Fredrickson 
National Institutes of Health 
Bethesda, MD 20205 
Dear Dr. Fredrickson: 
I urge that the new guidelines for recombinant DNA (Federal Register, 
Friday, November 30, 1979) be adopted. They are an improvement over the 
old guidelines. It is shocking, however, that political pressures can 
so impede science and delay the implementation so overdue. This should 
not be permitted in the future. In light of the fact that several 
years' experience with recombinant DNA activities have indicated their 
relative safety (as discussed in the guidelines), these guidelines 
should be adopted to reduce the unnecessary bureaucratic work involved 
in working on recombinant DNA activities. I think that the Recombinant 
DNA Advisory Conmittee has put in a great deal of effort together with 
the staff of your office. The results are commendable. 
Sincerely yours 
Sidney Pestka 
SP:sc 
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