Rather than shifting the burden of proof to those 
who question the safety of recombinant research, NIH 
should fully assume its statutory duty of conducting research 
into the causes and preventions of disease.—^ It is 
irresponsible for NIH to use its authority to fund 
biomedical research which promotes the use of recombinant 
techniques without also supporting research into the 
adverse effects the use. of these techniques may have. 
What is now known about genetic recombination raises serious 
questions about possible risks; NIH is the appropriate 
party to assume the burden of answering them. 
Until a comprehensive risk assessment program is 
completed, the only prudent course is to require containment 
at least as great as that provided by the 1976 NIH Guidelines. 
While the 1976 guidelines do not provide full protection 
from potential risks,, they are generally stricter than the 
proposed revised guidelines. Furthermore, the 1976 guidelines 
have been in use for two years and continued use, with some 
of the improvements made by the proposed revision, will not 
disrupt research now underway. 
1/ 42 U.S.C. § 241(a) 
[A-177] 
