Director 
Office of Recombinant DNA Activities 
November 15, 1977 
Page two 
Moreover, recombinant DNA research raises some serious moral 
concerns with respect to modification and alteration of the 
human species in ethically undesirable ways. 
Although ASMT strongly believes in the freedom of scientific 
inquiry we are also cognizant that the public must come to 
understand and share the belief of the scientific community 
that the development of DNA research under appropriate safe- 
guards is in the best public interest. It is for this reason 
that ASMT takes the position that DNA research must be con- 
ducted with a full understanding of the moral implications of 
such scientific inquiry and under effective safety procedures 
which insures maximum protection to the public health and 
safety. In this regard, DNA research must be conducted only 
by competent individuals working in laboratories that are 
properly staffed and equipped. 
It is with this philosophy in mind that our Society supports 
the National Institutes of Health's efforts to regulate 
activities involving DNA research. In evaluating the proposed 
NIH revised DNA guidelines the Society offers the following 
comments and suggestions: 
1. ASMT recommends the creation of an independent 
regulatory enforcement mechanism to insure both 
compliance with established NIH guidelines and 
the protection of public safety. The development 
of such a mechanism is necessary to insure that 
appropriate scientific inquiry may be conducted 
without public suspicion that the scientific 
community is policing its own house without the 
benefit of independent review. 
2. ASMT suggests the development of public educa- 
tional. programs to provide the information necessary 
to promote a general understanding of DNA research. 
The current lack of public understanding regarding 
DNA research can only serve to further perplex and 
confuse the public perception of 3uch activities. 
3. The Society recommends the development of uniform 
national standards including personnel, reporting 
and inspection requirements so as to insure that 
[Appendix A — 71] 
