-4- 
The recombinant DNA technology involves the introduction of foreign 
genes into these very plasmids which are already associated with increased 
pathogencity of IS. coli strains. There is every reason to believe that 
producing a variety of foreign proteins in E. coli strains, would alter 
their interaction with human hosts, and that some of these altered inter- 
action with human hosts, and that some of these altered interactions would 
be pathogenic. A well-defined model for one class of problems, the induction 
of autoimmune disease is described in the Falmouth proceedings (King, 1978). 
The failure of the PRG to discuss this problem, at the very heart of 
what we know about pathogenicity, is incomprehensible to me on scientific 
or public health grounds. Either the composition of the RAC is inadequate 
to the task, or the pressures for relaxation of the guidelines have resulted 
in the production of a heavily biased document. 
B) In the absence of a clear description of the nature of 
the hazards, we are treated instead to a continous repetition of 
the following logically fallacious and misleading argument: If we 
follow the guidelines in cloning experiments, there will be little 
risk; therefore there is little risk to cloning experiments; 
therefore we can relax the guidelines, which are unnecessary due 
to the lack of risk. 
IOC 
This is formally akin to arguing that since iodine- 1 "^ can be 
handled safely, there is little risk associated with iodij^^^ ; 
therefore we can relax the procedures for handling iodine" 1 
For example, a sophisticated form of this argument appears on 
page 33044, first paragragh. It is argued that since harmful 
effects have not yet come to light, there is little support for 
the notion of inadvertantly creating hazardous organisms. This 
then is used as an argument to justify weakening the guidelines. 
But all the work done so far has been under the guidelines, if we 
are to believe the protestation of the RAC. 
Thus the absence of adverse outcomes may reflect 
i) the effectiveness of the current guidelines, 
ii) the lack of any surveillance, monitoring, or even 
risk assessment program to look for adverse outcomes, 
iii) failure to follow the guidelines, and true lack of 
hazard in the experiments. Lack of hazard cannot be 
determined, under conditions where proper guidelines 
are being followed. 
Thus in no sense do the conclusions follow from the premise, even 
accepting the premise. 
The logic that handling materials safely is equivalent to "the 
material issafd' ,will lead to the total breakdown of safe handling 
procedures. 
[A-298] 
