22 
1 general the product of marvelous evolutionary adapta- 
2 tion which allows them to co-exist in the so-called 
3 carrier state far more often than to cause disease in 
4 their human host. In this context, parenthetically, 
5 the proposal to deal with DNA from viral pathogens at 
6 a level no higher than that appropriate to the parent 
7 virus seems eminently sensible. 
8 The broader point I would like to make is 
9 that biology in general, and infectious disease micro- 
10 biology in particular, submit to the same rational 
11 analysis as do other arenas of science, and while 
12 unknowns remain, much hard data and experience can 
13 be brought to bear on such discussions as the present 
14 consideration of recombinant DNA research. 
15 I therefore want to voice my support for 
16 the revision of the guidelines currently proposed. 
17 MR. LIBASSI: Thank you very much. We 
18 have no questions. 
19 The next witness is nr. Harlyn Halvorson. 
20 DR. HALVORSON: My name is Harlyn Halvorson. 
21 I am a microbiologist at Brandeis University, and I 
22 appear before you today as a member of the Public 
23 Affairs Committee and past president of the American 
24 Society for Microbiology. This society, ASM, has had 
25 a long interest in recombinant DNA research. I cite 
[114] 
