7 
sions involve' highly complex 1 value judgnients. Gredt progress has 
beeti matfe in cblleuting infoririatiriri 1 ' arid: drita : whirifr suripnrts a 
reduction in ’the degree of risk being perceived for' must of tne DNA 
recombfriattt reSekrch being conducted. There 7 is still a need ’frit 
further arid continuing evaluation of this arta since certain tvpeS ofTe- 
search are still prohibited or severely limited because of ’ignorfoce of 
the biological processes involved. Under the circutristarices, continuous 
monitoring or recotnbiriant UN A’ research by a formal publJd body 
appears tb be* nefcessafy, with 1 opportunities being provided for regular 
reassessment of the status of ( any judgments as research' and eVoiVing 
technologies provide mpm data. Such reassessments also will continue 
to require" policy evaluations in whieh scientists should participate 
but on which representative forms of Government should make the 
final decisions. 
Because of the tenuous nature of the assessments of risks and benefits 
and the high level of' public interest in and coneem about this new re- 
search technique, the Subcommittee' recommends that a “National 
Commission 7 ’ be established to provide a forum for public assessment 
of the evidence pertinent to this issue. Such commissions have served 
very useful functions in the resolution of other societal conflicts in 
areas, for example, like fetal research, human experimentation, and 
psychosurgery. The National Commission for the Protection of Human 
Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research received favorable 
comments during the Subcommittee’s hearings as a model of the type 
of forum within which issues of high technical content with conflicting' 
views of social and scientific value may be examined. A similar 
commission to provide for a public review process during the period 
of temporary regulation of recombinant DNA research could serve a 
useful function by evaluating the need for continuation of regulation 
and the form which such regulation could take. All concerned segments 
of the public should be represented or provided with ample opportunity 
to present their views. Such a national commission could be charged 
to report its findings to the Congress as appropriate as well as to the 
agencies with responsibilities assigned under kronor ary recombinant 
DNA regulation legislation. 
D. GENERAL IMPLICATIONS FOR SCIENCE POLICY 
Current educational procedures do not appear to be adequate, 
either for increasing an awareness of social responsibility on the part 
of scientists, or an awareness of the meaning of scientific developments 
on the part of public policy groups. The examination of such issues 
should be public with adequate opportunity for free participation by 
affected public groups — both research and public interest groups. 
This may require a special effort to encourage scientists to become 
involved since the recombinant DNA experience has shown again that 
scientists who do get involved often are subjected to criticism by their 
peers and must expend a considerable amount of time explaining not 
only the basis for their original concern but also their changing per- 
ceptions as new data are made available. 
As noted by several of the witnesses who testified before the Sub- 
coinmittee, this process of formalizing the examination of the “con- 
tract between science and society” has been only sporadic within the 
[Appendix B — 58] 
