4 
- With respect to the second, the spread of organisms 
into new niches happens continually as a result of two 
interacting aspects of nature, the development of new niches 
(not mentioned in the report) , and the radiation of existing 
organisms and newly evolved (or constructed) variants into 
these niches, or into existing but unoccupied niches. (For 
example, gypsy moths, chestnut blight, and antibiotic 
resistant bacteria in hospitals) . The arguments based on 
Ecoli K12 are bascially irrelevant; the impact of these 
regulatory changes will be to accelerate the applications of 
genetic engineering technology and genetic exchange, between 
a great variety of organisms. Some of these, if allowed 
toenter the environment will either establish themselves, or 
transfer their genes to indigenous strains. 
- With respect to the third, the literature of the last 
few years on microbial pathogenesis has clearly established 
that the introduction of a variety of genes - for 
colonization factors, toxins, antibiotic resistance, binding 
proteins, surface antigens, can increase the pathogenecity of 
the microbial strain for its host, or allow it to extend its 
host range. 
Public Health Considerations 
- Experiences with the organic chemical industry, with 
mining and extraction industtries, and with manufacturing and 
metalworking industries reveals clearly the long delays 
between the initiation of new industrial activities, and the 
discovery of the actual side effects on the hinnan population. 
These lags derived in some cases from physiological delays 
between exposure to a disease-causing agent and disease, as 
with carcingoens, or from difficulties in identifying the 
etioogical agents of the disease, for example in Minamata 
disea se . 
- In no case has it been possible to fully predict the 
effects of the products of the new technolgoies on humans or 
the ecosystem. 
- Recombinant DNA technology is less than ten years old. 
Its industrial applications have not even begun. Thus the 
course proposed by the Baltimore/ Clampbell proposals are 
singularly unwise and contrary to previous experience. The 
variety of living orgnaisms that can be generated through 
genetic modification of existing organisms is vastly greater 
than the variety of organic chemicals. Our experience of a 
vary narrow sector of microorganisms is clear; a subset of 
bacteria, viruses and fungi cause serious disease in himans. 
This is a major reason for our knwledge of them. To put 
foward the position that we can confidently predict the 
effects of all the great variety of modified microorganisms, 
many of vriiich are not even conceptualized ,when we cannot 
even predict the pathogenicity of the existing organisms in 
[ 722 ] 
