Department of Molecular Biology and 
Microbiology 
TUFTS UNIVERSITY 
School of Medicine 
June 2A, 1982 
Dr. William Gartland, Jr., Director 
Office of Recombinant DNA Activities 
Building 31, Room 4A52 
Natioival Institutes of Health 
Bethesda, Maryland 20205 
Dear Dr. Gartland: 
I write in support of the Goldstein-Novick proposal to restrict 
the formation of biological weapons by molecular cloning. I hope the 
RAC looks favorably on the proposal, or a stronger version. 
Recorded history shows us that nature has already Invented 
poorly host-adapted pathogens which have been responsible for numerous 
violent epidemics. It must, therefore, be possible for man to re- 
create pathogens with similarly catastrophic potential from the modern 
(less virulent) descendants. It behooves us to restrain any desire to 
embark on such research. 
Sincerely yours, 
D. Michael Gill, Ph.D. 
DMG:ah Professor 
136 Harrison Avenue 
Boston, Massachusetts 02111 
617 956-6750 
(821] 
