December 14 
1977 
David R. Brower. President 
Friends of the Earth 
72 Jane Street 
New York, New York 10014 
Dear Mr. Brower: 
For some time, my name has been associated with Friends 
of the Earth as a member of the Advisory Council. Although I've 
had no special duties to perform I have valued this connection and 
have generally supported the objectives of the organization. 
Now. to my regret, I find myself in disagreement on an 
issue which is of major importance for the future of biomedical 
science: recombinant DNA research. As a long time student of 
infectious disease and microbial pathogenicity, I regard the claims 
that this technology represents a new and major hazard to health 
as fanciful, grounded in ignorance of the subject, and too often 
based on ideological rather than scientific opinion. I believe that 
the NIH guidelines provide more than adequate assurance of 
safety if there were a hazard. 
I have just seen a copy of the civil action file in the suit 
against H. E.W. and N.I.H. on this issue, obviously intended to 
put a stop to all recombinant DNA research, with or without 
NIH guidelines. I do not agree at all with the assertions on 
which this case is constructed, and I belive that the net result of 
the action, if successful, will be damage to the whole scientific 
enterprise in this country. 
Therefore, with regret, I must tender my resignation from 
the Advisory Council of Friends of the Earth. 
Sincerely, 
Lewis Thomas, M.D. 
[A-411] 
