THE MILTON S. HERSHEY MEDICAL CENTER 
THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY 
DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY 
HERSHEY, PENNSYLVANIA 17033 
717 3 34-8253 
December 17, 1979 
Dr. Donald Fredrickson 
Director, National Institutes 
of Health 
Bethesda, Maryland 20205 
Dear Dr. Fredrickson: 
I have reviewed the revised guidelines for recombinant DNA 
research as they are published in the Federal Register and would 
like to cast my vote in favor of adopting the new changes. In 
particular this includes approval of the downgrading of contain- 
ment requirements for most E. coli K-12 host-vector systems. I feel 
that recombinants made in E. coli K-12 host-vector systems are easily 
contained and that registration of such experiments with a local 
Institutional Biosafety Committee is sufficient. Adoption of these 
new guidelines by the National Institute of Health will facilitate 
extremely important areas of research. 
Sincerely yours 
MKH/jb 
Mary K. Howett 
Assistant Professor 
