ST JUDE CHILDRENS RESEARCH HOSPITAL 
332 North Lauderdale, RO. Box 318, 
Memphis, Tennessee 38101 
(901) 522-0300 
Danny Thomas, Fourtder 
19 January 1982 
Dr. Williain J. Gartland, Jr. 
Director, Office of Recombinant 
DNA Activities 
Building 31, Room 4A52 
National Institutes of Health 
Bethesda, Marylemd 20205 
Dear Dr. Gartland: 
Th^unk you for sending copies of the proposed changes in NIH Guidelines 
for Recombinant DNA Research at my request. 
Having read all of the material provided in the Federal Register of 
December 4 emd 7, 1981, and in light of my other )cnowledge and 
experience, I conclude that Drs. Adelberg 2 md Zinder have the correct 
position: there is no scientific justification for maintaining amy 
Guidelines in force. 
I don't believe that the social and political considerations that 
have been mentioned as justifications for maintaining this regulatory 
apparatus eure worth worrying about. The news media and the public 
have forgotten about the hypothetical demgers of the new technology. 
That fad was blown so far out of proportion that it destroyed itself. 
Indeed, when no bad news materialized, the media took the opposite 
tack and have been overblowing the industrial potential of the technology. 
I hope the Recombin 2 mt DNA Advisory Committee will express its confi- 
dence in tne scientific process and in logical science policy and 
follow the lead of Drs. Adelberg amd Zinder. 
Sincerely, 
David W. Kingsbury, M.D. 
Member, Division of Virology 
DWK/hiiih 
1671] 
