3 
II. DEVELOPMENT OF THE NIH GUIDELINES 
The first step in the development of the Guidelines was taken by 
the scientific community. Scientists engaged in research using recombinant 
DNA technology first expressed concern about the potential biohazards at 
the Gordon Research Conference on Nucleic Acids in July 1973. At their 
request, the National Academy of Sciences created a committee that called 
for a moratorium on certain types of experiments and for an international 
conference to consider this problem further. The committee also called on 
the NIH to establish an advisory committee to study containment procedures 
and draft guidelines for the conduct of this research. At the International 
Conference on Recombinant DNA Molecules held at Asilomar, California, in 
February 1975, temporary guidelines were issued, including a continued 
moratorium on some experiments but allowing others to proceed with appropriate 
biological and physical safeguards, pending issuance of NIH guidelines. 
The NIH Recombinant DNA Molecule Program Advisory Committee was 
established in October 1974 to advise the Director of NIH. In December 
1975, the Committee, after several open meetings, recommended proposed 
guidelines for my review and decision. 
To assist me in the review of the proposed guidelines, a special 
meeting of the NIH Advisory Committee was convened in February 1976. 
Members of the Committee represented not only science but such other 
disciplines as law, ethics, and consumer affairs. Comments received 
from committee members and a number of public witnesses represented a 
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