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can be summarized as follows: One, organisms containing 
recombinant j)NA nay spread in the natural environment, 
and disrupt existing ecological equillibria. Two, the 
organisms might produce some toxic or noxious substance 
or otherwise cause disease. Three, by exploit iny this 
technology, scientists nay oe cross iny some hypothetical 
oarrier to DtlA exchange out ween eukaryotes and prokaryotes, 
and thus affect pathogenicity or dispersion of pathological 
agents . 
"Reports from the Falmouth meeting, and COGEHE- 
sponsored analyses of £. col i K12 systens show that nany 
relevant experiments have already been conducted by 
scientists in such closely related fields as epidemiology 
and infectious diseases. The observation that E. col i XI 2 
has a limited prospect of survival and the consensus that 
this uacteriun cannot be converted into an epidemic patho- 
gen by lauoratory nanipulat ions with DNA inserts do much 
to satisfy the first concern mentioned above. 
"In addition, long-term monitoring of laboratory 
workers who routinely handle K12 organisms carrying trans- 
mission proficient plasmids showed no bowel colonization 
despite the fact that the work was carried out without any 
special precautions. 
"If tie organisms which carry recombinant DU A 
[ 131 ] 
