Mr. Chairman, Members of the Committee: 
On behalf of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) I want to express 
our appreciation for the opportunity to testify before you on the proposed 
revised guidelines for recombinant DNA research as published in the Federal 
Register on Friday, July 28, 1978. For a number of years ASM has had a long 
and a continuing interest in recombinant DNA research, regulations, training 
and legislation. A number of Committees have been following this field. 
These include: (1) An Ad Hoc Committee under Dr. H. Ginsberg, which carried 
out an independent review of the initial guidelines and participated in 
discussion on the present guidelines; (2) Public Affairs Committee, in 
collaboration with a number of other scientific societies, has developed 
consensus positions concerning regulation of this research; and (3) An ASM 
Working Panel concerned with the training in microbial techniques for conducting 
recombinant DNA research. I addition, we have broadly solicited the views 
of our members. In the brief time available today I would like to restrict 
my remarks to five main issues concerning guidelines and submit, with your 
permission, for the record some specific recommendations for future review 
by the Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee. Portions of my statement reflect 
the consensus developed with other scientific societies in the last several 
years. 
(1) Development of the Guidelines 
ASM, in coalition with other scientific societies has testified before 
Congressional hearings that the NIH guidelines, as periodically modified by 
new information, are appropriate for determining national policies to govern 
research on recombinant DNA molecules. 
[ 292 ] 
