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1 the molecular basis of gene regulation during embryonic 
2 development of avian and human muscle, genetic control 
3 of antibody formation, and expression of tumor viruses 
4 in avian and mammalian cells. Our research programs 
5 have been and will continue to be profoundly influenced 
6 by the information and ideas resulting from recombinant 
7 DNA research and will be greatly affected by any guide- 
8 lines imposed upon this area of research. 
g We agree that the current guidelines, which 
10 have imposed stringent regulations on experiments 
11 involving recombinant DNA technology during the past 
12 few years, were appropriate. This period of extreme 
13 caution has served a useful function of permitting a 
14 thorough evaluation of the potential risks of such 
15 experiments. However, despite efforts by scientists, 
16 environmentalists, lay people, et cetera, to conjure 
17 up worst-case scenarios of potential hazards, there 
18 is no evidence to support the contention that recom- 
ig binant DNA research poses a biohazard to humans or 
20 their environment. Arguments that biohazardous 
21 organisms may be produced through recombinant DNA 
22 research appear to us to be simply speculation with 
23 no basis in fact, and no foundation or understanding 
24 of basic biological processes. 
25 In view of the lack of evidence for creation 
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