UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY 
BEXSZl^ • DAVn • mviMC • LOS ANCZLSS • RIVZBSmE • SAN DOKX) > SAN niANC3SCO 
SANTA BANBAHA • SANTA CBUZ 
DCPABTMCNT OF BIOCMEMISTKY 
BENKELEY, CAUFORNIA 94720 
May 18, 1982 
Dr. William S. Gartland 
Executive Secretary 
Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee 
National Institutes of Health 
Bethesda, Maryland 20205 
Dear Dr. Gartland: 
As a member of the Scientists' Committee on Chemical and Biological 
Warfare, I write In support of the Novlck-Goldsteln Amendment to the NIH 
Guidelines. This amendment, as I understand. Is designed to prohibit con- 
struction of biological agents. Including toxins, by the process of 
molecular cloning. 
When President Nixon made his 1969 pledge to abandon preparation 
of biological weapons, members of our committee wrote to request verifi- 
cation of this salutary gesture by on site Inspection. We never received 
a response to this request. Now there are allegations of use In wars 
abroad of blotoxlns, and here at home there are rumors of military Interest 
In development and production of agents by use of the new technology of 
molecular cloning. This wuld seem to be the time, prior to an Irreversible 
military commitment, for decisive action from the blo-science community to 
prohibit this nefarious practice. 
Sincerely 
Ji.' B. Nellands 
'I 
I|n>fessor of Biochemistry 
JBN:pm 
cc: R. Novlck 
1777) 
