PREFACE 
This document is the fourth in a series constituting a "public record" 
of activities at the National Institutes of Health in regard to research 
involving recombinant DNA. 
The first three volumes cover events from February 1975 through 
September 1978. Some highlights of that period follow: 
• The Asilomar Conference, Feb. 24-25, 1975, establishes preliminary 
guidelines for recombinant DNA experiments 
• NIH Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (RAC) formulates 
proposed Guidelines, May-Dec. 1975 
• NIH Director's Advisory Committee (DAC) meets to review RAC- 
proposed revisions, Feb. 9-10, 1976 
• NIH Guidelines issued, June 23, 1976 
• Federal Interagency Advisory Committee established, Oct. 1976. 
Proposes legislation in report of Mar. 15, 1977 
• Falmouth Workshop, June 20-21, 1977, assesses risks of recombinant 
DNA experimentation with Z. col i K-12 
• RAC proposes revision of NIH Guidelines, Sept. 27, 1977 
• NIH publishes final Environmental Impact Statement, Oct. 1977 
• DAC meets to review RAC-proposed revisions, Dec. 15-16, 1977 
• 95th Congress considers regulatory legislation, Jan. 1977- 
Nov. 1978 
• Decision for defendant in case of Mack v. Califano, by U.S. 
District Court for the District of Columbia, Feb. 23, 1978; 
upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals, Mar. 8, 1978 
• RAC reviews Workshops (Falmouth, Ascot, Agricultural Pathogens), 
Apr. 27-28, 1978 
• NIH issues proposed revised Guidelines, July 28, 1978 
• HEW Advisory Committee on Proposed Revised Guidelines holds 
public hearing on NIH-proposed revision, Sept. 1978. 
