4 
legislative proposals involving recombinant DNA activities. The legis- 
lative proposals before the subcommittee were bills S. 621 (introduced 
by Senator Bumpers), S. 945 (introduced by Senator Metzenbaum), 
and S. 1217 (introduced by Senator Kennedy) . 
III. Hearings 
The Committee has conducted public hearings on the issues sur- 
rounding the recombinant DNA controversy on three different occa- 
sions since 1975 : 
1975 
Witnesses were Stanley N. Cohen, M.D., of the Stanford University 
Departemnt of Medicine ; Donald Brown, Ph. D., of the Department of 
Embryology, Carnegie Institute of Washington, Baltimore, Md. ; 
Willard Gaylin, M.D., President of the Hastings Institute of Society, 
Ethics and the Life Sciences, Hastings-on- Hudson, N. Y. ; and Halsted 
Holman, M.D. of the Stanford University School of Medicine. 
Dr. Cohen, a physician and microbiologist who was involved in the 
early development of the recombinant DNA research technology, pre- 
sented an overview of state-of-the-art of that technology, including 
potential benefits and risks. He summarized the history of the Asilomar 
Conference. He described potential benefits that might result from 
recombinant DNA research. He expressed concern that the research not 
be impeded by the development of unnecessary and burdensome 
requirements. 
Dr. Halsted Holman, Chief of Immunology at Stanford School of 
Medicine, applauded the scientists’ initiative in convening the Asilo- 
mar Conference. He viewed that as the beginning of what he hoped 
would be an expanded dialogue between the scientific community and 
the public. He raised concerns about potential risks involved with 
conducting research in an area with no previous experience and with 
so many unknown factors. 
Dr. Donald Brown, a researcher in embryology at the Carnegie In- 
stitute of Washington, testified that scientists have the responsibility 
to publicly explain their actions. He differed with Dr. Holman on the 
degree to which the public should become a part of a formal decision- 
making process. He expressed the view that the complexities of scien- 
tific research necessitated scientific responsibility for research pro- 
grams. 
Dr. Willard Gaylin, a psychiatrist and the president of the Hastings 
Institute of Society, Ethics and the Life Sciences, raised three main 
issues concerning public participation in decision making relating to 
scientific research. These questions were: Does the public have the 
right to regulate scientific pursuit ? Can the public intelligently regu- 
late science, that is, does it have the knowledge, the ability, and the 
expertise? Should the public regulate science, and if so, what are the 
appropriate methods of control ? He argued for a meaningful role for 
the public in the decision-making process. 
September 22, 1976 
Witnesses included Dr. Donald S. Fredrickson, Director of the Na- 
tional Institutes of Health ; Dr. Wilson K. Talley, Assistant Admin- 
istrator for Research and Development of the Environmental Pro- 
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