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1 SV40 with a foreign segment of DNA is much less capable of 
2 spreading in the population than is the intact virus. 
3 Moreover, it is now quite clear that each of the mammalian 
4 viruses that have been proposed as vectors for recombinant 
5 DNA — polyoma, SV40 , murine adenovirus, the human adenovirus 
6 readily recombines with its host cell DNA to form a large 
7 variety of recombinant viruses. In other words, we appear 
8 to be exposed to shotgun-type viral recombinants all the 
9 time in our natural environment. 
10 Finally, I would like to comment on the proposed 
11 role of the local biosafety committees in monitoring recom- 
12 binant DNA research. It has always made sense to me, given 
13 the assessment of risk, for an institution to carry the 
14 responsibility for its own research activities. 
15 That is the case, as you know, for other kinds of micro- 
15 biological research, including the handling of pathogens, 
17 and the use of radioactive materials. 
18 From my own experience at Johns Hopkins, I find 
19 that the biosafety committee is a serious undertaking there 
2 q They do their work diligently. They carry out inspections 
21 as required, and their authority is recognized by everyone 
22 concerned. 
23 I think the revised guidelines, in specifying 
24 the reporting procedures of local biosafety committees to 
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