Appendix III 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, pages E4331-2 
July 11, 1977 
INTERNATIONAL INTEREST IN 
GENETIC RESEARCH 
HON. OLIN E. TEAGUE 
OF TEXAS 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Monday. July 11. 1977 
Mr TEAOUE. Mr. Speaker, it may 
soon be necessary for the Members ot 
this body to consider the need for en- 
actment of legislation on an issue which 
has aroused an unusual degree of con- 
troversy in both scientific and public dis- 
cussions. The new ability to manipulate 
experimentally the basic genetic mate- 
rial of a cell — known as deoxyribonucleic 
acid or DNA — has produced a science 
and public policy issue of considerable 
Importance. DNA recombinant molecule 
research, which is what one of these new 
techniques of genetic manipulation is 
called, has been under examination as a 
potential public policy issue for several 
years and Is finally being addressed m 
proposed Federal legislation. It is clear 
that the policy Implications are not go- 
ing to be resolved easily. 
DNA recombinant molecule research 
is being encouraged by proponents for 
the potential benefits it appears to offer, 
such as the biological production of a 
pure form of insulin and other drug 
products, for its potential contribution to 
basic biological knowledge, and for other 
practical applications in agriculture and 
Industry. At the same time, a potential 
risk to the public health and the envi- 
ronment. as well as philosophical prob- 
lems dealing with the social aspects of 
the technique, are being cited by oppo- 
nents of the research. 
The fact that there are so many un- 
known factors which must be estimated 
means that society, and the Congress, 
must exert a considerable effort to main- 
tain a high level of awareness about the 
DNA recombinant molecule issue and to 
be prepared to take the best actions 
determined to be necessary. My state- 
ment today is in part a request that the 
Members become familiar with this issue 
before it reaches the House for con- 
sideration in the form of legislation. 
Few developments in biological re- 
search have aroused such widespread and 
truly international debate as the DNA 
recombinant molecule research issue. I 
noted this fact during a recent official 
visit to France when the topic became a 
part of our policy discussion. I believe 
that the Members of the House should 
be aware that mast of the nations In 
Western Europe are engaged in the same 
task with which we are struggling in the 
United States; namely: How are we to 
permit the continuation of biological re- 
search using DNA recombinant tech- 
niques which scientists tell us offers 
such great potential benefits to society 
and at the same time Insure that applica- 
tions of this new knowledge do not place 
our citizens or the environment in some 
unexpected Jeopardy? Should Federal 
regulation preempt local regulation? 
How should responsibilities be assigned? 
What form should the regulating body 
assume? How much regulation is re- 
quired? What authorities need to be as- 
signed by legislation? 
There are now at least five major or- 
ganizations trying to coordinate this 
international debate. These i nclu de the 
World Health Organization — WHO; the 
International Council of Scientific 
Unions — IC6U: the European Molecular 
Biology Organization — EMBO: the Eu- 
ropean Science Foundation — ESF; and 
the European Commission of the Eu- 
ropean Economic Communities. 
Some sort of advisory or voluntary or- 
ganizational structure for review of DNA 
research now exists in most Western Eu- 
ropean countries, and Canada. Australia, 
and Japan are involved in these debates. 
Some of these countries, as in the United 
Kingdom, have established formal or- 
ganizations such as their Oenetlc Manip- 
ulation Advisory Group — GMAO — and 
these groups review the proposed re- 
search protocols and determine whether 
the rucombinant research should pro- 
ceed Research guidelines very similar to 
the guidelines developed by our National 
Institutes of Health are utilized to pro- 
vide direction. As in the United St.-ies. 
except for Government-funded research, 
participation by submittal of projects for 
review and acceptance of the guidelines 
is mostly voluntary. The Netherlands and 
Sweden are considering the need for spe- 
cial legislation Just as we may be required 
to decide here In the House in the near 
future. The United Kingdom Is taking ac- 
tion to secure legal compliance with reg- 
ulations established by its Health and 
Safety Commission. In all of these ac- 
tions, the Western European nations are 
watching our proposed legislative activity 
with great Interest. 
It is Important that we all realize that 
the DNA recombinant research Issue can- 
not be dealt with in isolation from the 
rest of the world. Just as it is necessary 
for the Congress to evaluate the relative 
merit* of permitting potentially different 
seta of State and local regulations to 
emerge as contrasted with Federal pre- 
emption of State and local option, the 
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