72 Jane Street 
New York NY 1001 4 ^ 
(212) 675-7173 A 
Coalition for Responsible Genetic Research 
ADVISORY COUNCIL 
John S Bird M.D. 
Dr Irwin Bross 
Helen Caldicott M.D.* 
Dr Liebe Cavalieri* 
John C. Cobb M D * 
Dr Douglas DeNike 
Dr Key Dismukes* 
W Jack Frumin M.D 
Solomon Garb MD.* 
Steven Havas M.D.* 
Dr Ruth Hubbard* 
Dr Marvin Kalkstein* 
J.R. Kent M.D 
Dr. Jonathan King* 
Dr Sheldon Krimsky* 
Elliot Linzer* 
Pamela Lippe* 
Joyce Milton 
Lewis Mumford* 
Dr Stuart Newman* 
Christine Oliver M D * 
David Ozonoff M.D * 
Dr Barbara Rosenberg* 
David Straton M.D.* 
Dr. George Wald*, 
Nobel Laureate 
Susanna Waterman* 
Dr Joseph Weizenbaum* 
Dr. Susan Wright* 
*Executive Committee 
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STATEMENT ON NEW PROPOSED REVISIONS OF THE 
RECOMBINANT DNA GUIDELINES 
Whereas proposed new revisions for the Recombinant DNA Guidelines 
were approved at the meeting of the Recombinant DNA Advisory Comm- 
ittee, April 27-8, 1978, a public hearing to review the new revi- 
sions and a full Environmental Impact Statement are now in order. 
The new revisions go far beyond the changes discussed at the pub- 
lic meeting held at the NIH, December 15-6, 1977. These proposed 
changes include the following: 
1. Delegation of authority for initial approval of experi- 
ments from the NIH to local biohazards committees. (This 
would mean that experiments could be started before being 
reviewed by the NIH. 
2. Exemption from the Guidelines of organisms known to poss- 
ess an R-plasmid transferable to E. coli K-12. (This broad 
criterion would exempt such organisms as neisseria gonor- 
rheae and vibrio cholerae . It was approved despite the fact 
that Dr. Stanley Falkow, the Committee's consultant on the 
ecology of microorganisms, dissented strongly from the maj- 
ority view of the Committee . ) 
MEMBERSHIP 
PARTIAL LISTING 
Walter Askinas M.D. 
David R Brower 
Rev Roger Burgess 
Sir MacFarlane Burnet, 
Nobel Laureate 
Stuart Chase 
Citizens Rights Committee 
Glen C. Cobb M.D 
Dr. C. David Elm 
William D. Furst M.D. 
Reverend David A Furuness 
Mariano L Galaineva M.D 
W B. Gamble Jr. M.D. 
F.M Golomb M.D. 
Dr Mario A Gonzalez 
Harold J . Harris M.D. 
Dr. Kenneth L. Jackson 
Father Walter T. Kelleher 
Hadley Kirkman M.D. 
Dr Laura Kratz 
Henry D Lauson M.D. 
Dr. Herbert Manning 
Edwin F. Matthews Jr. 
Edward Miller M.D 
Robert Murphy M.D. 
Maurice L Origenes M.D. 
Dr Aurelio Peccei 
Henry Pinkerton M.D 
Eliot Porter 
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3. Reduction of containment for virus experiments to levels 
considerably lower than those in the Guidelines discussed 
at the December meeting. 
The Committee also approved lowered containment levels for exper- 
iments aimed at attaining expression of rat growth hormone, rat 
pre- and pro-insulin, and rat insulin in E. coli. The levels ap- 
proved were respectively P2 EK1, P2 EKl , and P2 EK2 . 
Approval was based on rule-of-thumb calculations carried out by 
the experimenters and one member of the Committee. Such rough 
conjectures as a basis for assessment violate the traditional can- 
ons of scientific procedure . This assessment and justification 
have all the more importance given that the experiments are being 
carried out with a view to future industrial applications. 
In order that the foregoing information be given proper consider- 
ation and input, we respectfully request that adequate time be 
made available by prompt attention to these matters. 
Dr Jerome Prager 
Dr Steven Price 
Sister Mary E Reichert 
Abby Rockefeller 
Lewis M Schiffer M.D 
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cc: Rogers, Ottinger 
Kennedy, Stevenson 
CEQ, EPA, OSHA 
June 1, 1978: 
Submitted to Dr. Fredrickson 
Solomon Garb M.D 
Membership Secretary 
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[Appendix A — 320] 
Francine R Simring 
Executive Director 
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