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1 facilitate work in the field of recombinant DNA 
2 technology. I consequently would urge the committee 
3 to adopt the proposed revisions. 
4 More specifically, I would like to speak in favor 
5 of the reductions in containment levels for research 
6 involving recombinant DNA's containing eukaryotic viral 
1 genomes. The arguments that support the reduction in 
0 containment level for this area of research are well 
9 presented in the report of the Ascot meeting. The prohi- 
10 bitions which are contained in the present guidelines 
against research involving the cloning of virus genomes 
12 resulted from scientists who were about to engage in that 
13 work, wishing to hold back because of insufficient 
14 knowledge and incomplete reasoning concerning the 
15 possible risks in that endeavor. 
16 The Ascot report shows that indeed it is diffi- 
yj cult to imagine how a cloned viral genome would be more 
10 dangerous than the original virus itself. Many of us have 
ig worked for some years with eukaryotic viruses in laboratory 
20 si tuations, and without particular cautions in the case of, 
21 say for example. Class 2 agents. We have worked in that 
22 fashion without apparent harm. 
23 While common sense dictates that we use good 
24 technique in the handling of all virus material, I see no 
25 apparent justification for continuing the ban on the cloning 
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