THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITT 
SCHOOL OF MEDiaXE 
DEPARTMENT OF MICROUOLOGT 
December 31, 1981 
7f5 N. WOLFE STREET 
BALTUiORE, AURTLAND SIMS 
Dr. William J. Gartland, Jr. 
Director 
Office of Recombinant DNA Activities 
NIH 
Building 31, Room 4A52 
Bethesda, Maryland 20205 
Dear Dr. Gartland: 
I have examined the proposed revisions of the N.l.H. Guidelines for 
Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules that appears In the Federal 
Register of December 4, 1981. I am wholeheartedly in favor of their 
acceptance. The current guidelines, eventhough relaxed over previous 
versions, are still restrictive for my own research and for many other 
Investigators whom I have talked to. In light of our Increased 
knowledge regarding the high frequency of so-called Illegitimate DMA 
exchanges In nature, catalyzed by viruses, plasmids, and transposable 
elements, and In view of the absence of dangerous products of 
recombinant work over the past few years. It seems prudent and safe to 
remove most of the remaining restrictions and administrative red tape. 
I am strongly In favor of the RAC proposal and strongly oppose the 
Gottesman proposal. 
Sincerely, 
ill ton 0. Smith, MM 
Professor, Department of 
Molecular Biology & 
Genetics 
HOS: jo 
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