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1 -- virulent smallpox virus, Vireola major -- escaped 
2 from a laboratory in England and infected someone, 
3 resulting in a death. There are virulent viruses and 
4 other agents — known virulent viruses — that are 
5 worked with in the United States with far less concern, far 
6 less inhibitions, administrative constraints, et cetera. 
7 I personally would rather see the priorities set to grade 
8 containment of those viruses that are worked with. These 
g would include, as an example, influenza viruses. 
1 0 Thank you. 
U MR. LIBASSI: Thank you very much. Dr. Levine. 
12 Marshall Edgell? 
13 DR. EDGELL: My name is Marshall Edgell. I am 
14 a Professor of Bacteriology at the University of North 
15 
Carol ina . 
15 In my opinion, the proposed guidelines represent 
yj a small step in the right direction, but only a tiny step. 
1g I have had difficulty from the very beginning in gaining 
19 any intellectual comfort from these guidelines on recombinant 
2Q DNA inquiry. The bulk of the public argument, as I have 
21 seen it, revolves around trying to solve this social 
22 calculus of balancing the quality of the conceivable miracles 
23 against a nagnitude of the advertised dooms. 
24 A complex society such as ours would be negligent 
25 
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