November 17, 
RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD AT ITS 
ONE-HUNDRED AND NINETY-FOURTH MEETING ON NOVEMBER 17-18, 1977 
The National Science Board unanimously requested that the 
Director of the National Science Foundation convey to the 
Director of the National Institutes of Health its endorse- 
ment of the process used to update the guidelines for the 
conduct of recombinant DNA research. The original guide- 
lines were developed on the basis of scientific information 
available approximately two years ago. The proposed revisions 
have been developed on the basis of new information accumulated 
during the intervening period, in particular, those concerning 
the biology of organisms containing recombinant DNA molecules 
and the effectiveness of biological and physical containment. 
Reassessment will undoubtedly be needed again in the future 
as new knowledge becomes available, as cited in the earlier 
resolution of the Board. 
The Board also endorsed the activity carried out by the National 
Institutes of Health in widely publicizing the proposed revisions 
in such a way as to ensure full participation of scientific, 
industrial, agricultural, environmental, and other concerned 
public groups in the process. 
The National Science Board looks forward to continuing 
cooperation with the National Institutes of Health in this 
area of mutual concern. 
[Appendix A — 109] 
