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1 meeting of the local INC to certify moving in a very 
2 logical direction. 
3 In sun, all of those involved in the prepar- 
4 ation of the PRG should be commended for their attention 
5 to detail. I strongly recommend that the PRG be approved 
6 as soon as possible so that the work may proceed. 
7 Up to this point I have addressed myself to the 
8 guidelines in their given context. I would like to speak 
g more generally about recombinant DMA research. 
10 When Derg et al. spoke out four and a half years 
11 ago, they did so forthrightly. Other commentators have added 
12 other adjectives. One of our group, my friend and colleague 
13 Dr. James Watson, publicly apologized for his role in this 
14 event at the Advisory Committee to the Director last 
15 December. I understand and respect his feelings. My own 
16 are somewhat different. 
17 I believe that given what we knew at the time, 
18 we did the conservative thing. However, I too have now 
19 become convinced, as have most of my scientific colleagues, 
20 that special regulation of recombinant DNA research is 
21 unnecessary, so why all the fracas? 
22 Our major error was in not realizing how readily 
23 this issue would become politicized. Political perceptions 
24 have continuously played a significant role in the events 
25 of these past Lew years. The issue was used in some ways to 
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