University of Wisconsin-Madison 
LABORATORY OF GENETICS 
Genetics Building 
445 Henry Mall 
Madison, Wisconsin 53706 
December 19, 1979 
Dr. Donald Fredrickson, Director 
National Institutes of Health 
Bethesda, MD 20205 
Dear Dr. Fredrickson, 
I am writing to support the proposal (Federal Register, Nov. 30) 
to reduce the physical and biological containment requirements for 
K12 recombinant DNA experiments to P1-EK1. When in 1973 I signed 
the letter from the Nucleic Acids research conference that started 
the move toward formulation of recombinant DNA guidelines, something 
like EK1-P1 containment is what we had in mind. 
I have regretted that signature over the last seven years because 
the exaggerated and emotional debate has led to wasteful and stupid 
containment requirements more appropriate to the most serious pathogens. 
My current view is that even PI containment is probably unnecessary but 
certainly preferable to the current requirements. 
Another welcome aspect of the proposed guideline revisions will 
be the ability to use some new phage vectors. The field of vectors 
has been completely stiffled under the current guidelines by the re- 
quirement for EK2 certification of vectors. This certification process 
resembles the SALT debate more than scientific discourse and has led 
to virtual abandonment of promising vector developments. Ironically, 
the safer the vector, the harder it has been to certify it. 
In summary, your decision to propose abandonment of the need for 
high containment of EKl experiments is a truly courageous one and 
certainly deserves the highest support and gratitude of the scientific 
community. 
Yours truly 
F 
Associate Professor of Genetics 
FRB :cd 
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