Dr. Wllllaa J. Gartland, Jr. 
National Inacltutes of Health 
January 8, 1982 
Page Two 
I 
Should the 'Gotteaaan propoaal” be adopted, I can foresee a further ero- 
sion of the credibility of our IBC and thus of Its ability to function. Even 
though It Is apparently to be adnltted that there Is no Intellectual basis for 
special restrictions concerning recombinant DNA, It Is proposed to maintain In 
place a regulatory apparatus primarily for political reasons. Under such a 
system, I find It hard to see how I can persuade ay colleagues to serve on the 
IBC or defend my own continued Involvement. If, on the other hand, the DNA 
Guidelines were to be made voluntary, following the "RAC proposal", this 
problem would be far more easily resolved. The question of safety In recom- 
binant DNA research would take Its place beside other safety problems that have 
been handled without the establishment of pervasive bureaucracies. To sum up, 
the evolution of the recombinant DNA story has produced a climate In which the 
continuation of mandatory "guidelines" would fall to elicit the consent of the 
governed which Is the fundamental precept of democratic governance, especially 
on matters of the general welfare. 
I urge the committee to adopt the "RAC proposal" since It contains the 
elements required to deal with the future development of recombinant DNA re- 
search, and avoids the potential politicization of the guideline system that 
would be a logical outcome of the alternative proposal. 
Sincerely yc^rs. 
reed, Ph.D. 
nstltute Biosafety Committee 
JJF:ls 
(645J 
