The first meeting of COGENE was held in Paris in May 1977. It was 
decided that recombinant DNA would be the issue receiving first priority 
Accordingly, working groups on recombinant DNA guidelines (S. Cohen, 
Chairman), risk-assessment (A. Skalka, Chairwoman), and training and 
education (K. Murray, Chairman) were established to study, analyze, 
and report on their respective topics. Questionnaires distributed 
by Dr. Cohen's group indicate that 16 nations* have so far developed 
guidelines. In addition, Dr. Skalka is awaiting the return of question- 
naires designed to determine the level of effort aimed at assessing 
the risks of recombinant DNA activities. 
UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATIONS 
Two organizational entities within the U.N. have shown an interest 
in the issues associated with recombinant DNA technology. 
UNEP has been concerned primarily with the possibilities of nitro- 
gen fixation through the use of these techniques and with the problems 
surrounding the potential release of recombinant DNA molecules into the 
environment . 
UNESCO has centered its attention on the ethical aspects of this 
research. A conference entitled "Science in the Contemporary World: The 
Human Implications of Scientific Advances" was held in Bulgaria in 1975, 
and a symposium "Genetics and Ethics" was held in October 1977 in Madrid 
Topics discussed at the latter included the benefits of genetic studies, 
*Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, 
Italy, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the United 
Kingdom, and the United States. 
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