JC HN ,1. LAFALjCE 
36th District. New York 
417 Cannon Building 
Washington. D.C. 2031 3 
(202) 223-3231 
COMMITTEE ON 
BANKING. CURRENCY AND 
HOUSING 
Congress of tfje Hmteb States 
Federal Building 
Buffalo. New York 14202 
(716) 842-2680 
COMMITTEE ON 
SMALL BUSINESS 
%qu it of &epreaentattoe$ 
®Sa£tf)(ngton, 3B.C. 20515 
Main Post Office Building 
Niagara Falls. New York 14302 
(716) 284-9976 
August 9, 1976 
Buffalo Office 
Public Health Service 
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health 
5600 Fishers Lane 
Rockville, Maryland 20852 
Dear Sir: 
I am writing in regard to an inquiry I received from a 
constituent. Dr. Joseph Krasner, 60 Snughaven Court, 
Tonawanda, New York 14150, concerning studies about gen- 
etic manipulation which he read about in the Journal, 
NATURE, Vol. 261, page 624, June 24, 1976. Dr. Krasner 
said that, according to the journal article, studies have 
been done at Stanford University and the University of 
California regarding patenting a technique of genetic 
manipulation. He believes that, since all the information 
has been derived through grants from the Public Health 
Service, it is public information and not patentable. 
I would appreciate your looking into this and furnishing 
me with information regarding this matter. Any details 
you can provide which will help to explain the situation 
to Dr. Krasner will be appreciated. 
Thank you for your interest in this regard. 
JOHN J. LaFALCE 
Member of Congress 
JJL:mf 
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