15 June, 1982 
Dr. Wllllan Gartland, Jr., Director 
Office of Recombinant DNA Activities 
Bullllng 31, Room 4A52 
National Institutes of Health 
Bethesda, Maryland, 20205 
Dear Dr. Gartland i 
I am writing this letter In support of the proposed amend- 
ment to the NIH Recombinant DNA Guldllnes which would ament section 
I-D-7 by proscribing the "construction of biological weapons by 
molecular cloning." 
I feel very strongly that the use of this technology to 
construct biological weaponry constitutes the most horrifying 
misuse of scientific knowledge that I can think of because of the 
effect Its use might have and the manner In which It would be used. 
War In any form Is an appallingly primitive and Inhuraae method of 
achieving ends, but the non-dlscrlmlnatlng and unpredictable nature 
of biological warfare ranks second only to nuclear warfare In Its 
disregard of the welfare of the planet we live on and depend upon 
for our very existence. The human race Is (finally) becoming 
Increasingly aware of the delicate balance of nature and the 
prppenslty of man's (seemingly Innocuous) tinkering to disrupt that 
balance. To deliberately construct an Instrument which by Its very 
nature Is designed to affect a large segment of life seems to me to 
fly In the face of all that we have learned. 
I realize that the mere adoption of this resolution by an 
advisory body will not deter the military as It Is now constituted, 
but the act of debating the Issues In a public forum may serve to 
Inform the citizenry and generate sufficient public pressure to 
force a reconsideration. 
Janet Gelsselsoder 
1285 Monteclto Ave. #36 
Mountain View, CA. 94043 
[ 793 ] 
