MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY 
77 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE 
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS 02139 
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY 
August 31, 1978 
PHONE: (617) 253-1000 
Dr. Donald S. Fredrickson 
Director 
Department of Health, Education, and Welfare 
Public Health Service 
National Institutes of Health 
Bethesda, MD 200ll+ 
Dear Dr. Fredrickson: 
I am responding to the request for comments on the proposed revised guide- 
lines on recombinant DNA research. 
I am pleased that there has been so much discussion and careful assessment 
by the scientific community, our senators and representatives, and the general 
public. The problem has been well aired, and I believe that the scientific 
community has been particularly conscientious in weighing the issues involved. 
Because of this, I feel that the proposed revisions carry the weight of reasoned 
judgement and sincerety, without the taint of self-serving prejudices. 
Since I am closest to the bacterial cloning work, where the inserted DNA is 
derived from bacteria, I have concentrated most on the revisions pertaining to 
this. I believe it is entirely appropriate that much of this work be placed into 
a declassified status. Thus, whether the source of the DNA is E. coli , X, or even 
an attenuated strain of S. typhimurium , I believe that declassification is 
appropriate. This will certainly make work in this area more efficient, and in 
a general sense less costly, without any apparent attendant increase in hazard. 
I hope these comments are of some use , and I hope that the public hearing 
on the proposed revisions will be fruitful. 
Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics 
PRS/jm 
[A-66] 
