the colon of mice caused low-level infection. Not only was 
naked DNA shown to.be an infective etiological agent, it can 
also be envisioned that such an experiment would expand the 
host range of polyoma by allowing the polyoma DNA to infect a 
cell that would be unreceptive to an encapsulated virion. 
Rather than lower the containment levels for recombinant 
work with viruses, this experiment should encourage us to 
maintain the original stringent containment levels for such 
viruses. 
The Proposed Revised Guidelines delegate substantial 
authority and flexibility to individual Institutional Biohazard 
Committees (I.B.C.) and as such lay the foundation for inconsistent 
protocols around the country. The IBC's are given the authority 
to choose between various containment combinations and to reduce 
containment levels, at their discretion, by one step for well- 
characterized clones. Such a system will inevitably lead to 
non-uniform compliance and a subsequent disrespect for the 
NIH Guidelines. While IBC's should take some of the burden from 
the Recomb inant DNA Advisory Committee and help organize protocols 
consistent with the NIH Guidelines for its member researchers, 
it should not be entrusted with such vast federal administrative 
power. Researchers and IBC's should follow uniform Guidelines, 
not decide them. This applies equally to the inspection and 
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