MARK A. CHATIGNY 
15926 Via Toledo 
San Lorenzo, California 94580 
(415) 276-4307 
September 22, 1978 
Dr. Donald Fredrickson 
Director, National Institute of Health 
Bethesda, Maryland 20014 
Subject i Use of Asporogenous organisms for recombinant DNA 
Research. 
Dear Dr. Fredericksom 
It has come to my attention that there are RDNA studies in 
progress that employ microorganisms having a spore state. For 
example Bac illus Subitilus Var . Niger has been discussed. 
This microorganism is ubiquitous in nature and can be 
found in almost any part of the world, including the dry valleys 
of the Antarctica. I do not know its ecological role but one 
would suspect that it does have a role to play and that although 
it may be an inevitable evolutionary condition it is a remark- 
ably stable organism. It will survive and propogate in ecological 
niches of an astounding range. In the spore form, it may last 
for years or centuries. 
If only for reasons that parallel our unwillingnes to un- 
wittingly colonize the Moon or Mars, I respectfully suggest that 
the guidelines limit any RDNA work with Spore forming organisms 
to those mutants that are asporogenous. 
I am a strong believer in biological and physical contain- 
ment but I would not be satisfied that the probability of release 
to the environment of a hardy spore containing controlled genetic 
information would be zero. While I see no immediate hazard to 
man from the work in progress, I am aware that a very long term 
[A— 289 3 
