BOA WO OF 1WUSILLS REPRESENTING 
• American Association of irnunoio9*sts 
• Amci cin institute of Bn •; j Sciences 
• American Pny toDJtno'O'j Society 
• 
• 
• American Society of Par jsitoiognti 
• American Society of Zooio^ sts 
• American Society of T rooic.i Medicine and Hygiene 
• Genetics Society of Amei ca 
• infectious Diseases Society of America 
• Mycoiogica* Society of America 
• National Research Counc ■ National Academy of Sciences 
• Soc ety of Proto/oofogists 
• Tissue Culture Association 
• 301-881-2600 
AMERICAN TYPE 
CULTURE 
COLLECTION 
12301 PARKLAWN DRIVE 
ROCKVILLE. MARYLAND 20852 
March 2, 1977 
Senator Jacob K. Javitz 
and 
Senator Edward M. Kennedy 
United States Senate 
Washington, D. C. 20510 
Dear Senators Javitz and Kennedy: 
Re: Recombinant DNA Research 
Letter of February 14, 1977 
In response to your letter of February 14, 1977, it is possible that 
the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) may not fit into the milieu for 
which your questionnaire is designed. We are non-profit, non-commercial and 
our major raison d'etre is to preserve and provide authenticated strains of 
microorganisms, viruses and tissue culture cell lines to the scientific com- 
munity. Though we are a private scientific organization we are heavily 
involved in NIH grants and contracts and therefore come under the NIH guide- 
lines. 
At present we are not engaged in recombinant DNA research but it is 
conceivable that as new recombinants become available we will be called upon 
to develop methods to preserve their, and to make them available to other 
scientists and other scientific organizations. Under such circumstances we 
certainly would operate under the guidelines. In short then: 
1) We are not engaged in recombinant DNA research. We may become 
so involved as noted above. 
2) If we become involved it is likely to circle around methods for 
preserving, reproducing and distributing NIH-approved recombinants. 
3) We would certainly be "registered" with the NIH for such research. 
4) We would comply with the NIH guidelines. 
5) We have not nor do we anticipate obtaining patents on such 
recombinants . 
[227] 
An independent non profit organization incorporated in Washington. D C and devoted to the 
preservation of reference cultures and their distribution to the scientific community 
