3 
I. CALL TO ORDER 
The Chairman/ Mr. Ray Thornton, called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. 
on June 28, 1982. He asked Dr. Ahmed to review the minutes of the 
February 8-9, 1982, RAC meeting. 
II. MINUTES OF 'ME FEBRUARY 8-9, 1982 MEETING 
Dr. Ahmed said the draft minutes (t^D 1073) of the February 8-9, 1982, RAC 
meeting accurately conveyed the sense of that meeting. Cc. McGarrity moved 
that the minutes be accepted. Dr. Ahmed seconded the motion. By a voice 
vote, the motion to accept the minutes of the February 8-9, 1982, meeting 
was unanimously carried. 
III. PROPOSED PROHIBITION 
Dr. Baltimore noted that the proposal (tabs 1066, 1067, 1068, 1075, 1076) 
advanced by Dr. Richard Goldstein of Harvard Medical School and Dr. Richard 
Novick of the Public Health Research Institute of New York, would amend the 
Guidelines to prohibit "the construction of biological weapons by molecular 
cloning." He said the proposal generated tremendous initial sympathy 
because the concept of biological warfare is horrible. 
Dr. Baltimore said he felt tlie proposal is based on Drs. Novick and 
Goldstein's percepticai that use of recombinant DNA technology for bio- 
logical warfare is not ccvered by the Biological Weapons Convent ion. 2 The 
Convention, vhich prohibits biological warfare, was signed by the Lhited 
States in 1972. Dr. Baltimore said he had questioned the Ihited States 
Arms Control and Disarmament Agency in 1975 as to whether the Biological 
Weapons Convention prohibits production of recombinant ENA molecules for 
the construction of biological weapons. The Arms Control and Disarmament 
^^ency, in reply (tab 1067) to his inquiry, stated that "the use of recom- 
binant molecules for such purposes clearly falls within the scope of 
the Convention's provisions." 
Dr. Baltimore felt it was extremely important that any action t^en by RAC 
bolster the Biological Weapons Convention and raise no suggestion that the 
treaty is insufficient.* He said he wished to be recorded as stating the 
Biological Weapons Convention prohibits the use of recanbinant DNA technology 
to produce biological weapons. He also wished recorded his sentiment that 
any RAC action should support the treaty language. 
2lhe formal name of this Convention is: Convention on the Prohibition 
of Development, Production, and Stockpiling of Bacteriological 
(Biological) and Tbxin Weapons and on Their Destruction. 
[ 462 ] 
