THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO 
DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY 
920 EAST S8TH STREET 
CHICAGO • ILLINOIS 60637 
December 24, 1979 
Dr. Donald S. Frederickson 
Director, National Institutes of Health 
Bethesda, Maryland 20205 
Dear Dr. Frederickson: 
I wish to add my support of the proposed revisions of the Guidelines for Research 
Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules, as published in the Federal Register, Nov. 30, 
1979, and in particular the statement under part HI E (pp. 6945-6) on the proposed 
decision of the director of NIH on the E. coli K-12/01 recommendation (pp. 69235-6). 
The enormous promise of this research tool for the elucidation of gene structure and 
regulation, especially in eukaryotes, as well as producing a large variety of important 
proteins for therapeutic purposes, make it mandatory to facilitate this research activity 
in all reasonable ways. The lack of serious hazards from the use of recombinant DNA 
techniques has now been widely and carefully documented. The collective efforts of 
concerned scientists and laymen with the NIH in the handling of this vital issue has 
been most laudable and provides a heartening indication that our country continues to 
lead the world both in science and intelligent and concerned science policy. 
With best wishes. 
Sincerely yours 
Donald F. Steiner, M.D. 
A.N. Pritzker Professor of Biochemistry 
DFSraj 
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