30 
Dr. Cape 
Dr. Cape indicated that the beneficial outcome of DNA recombi- 
nant research will probably fall into two categories: (1) fundamental 
understanding of the processes of life generally and (2) facilitation of 
the development of products and processes not now possible — 
such as vaccine developments, synthesis of new biological products, 
v etc. [The recent successes in the cloning of the gene for rat insulin and 
the use of DNA recombinant techniques to make the first functional 
protein, the hormone somatostatin, tend to support Dr. Cape’s 
observations about the immediate practical value of the technique.] 
Dr. Lewis 
Dr. Lewis indicated in his testimony that most of the potential 
benefits from recombinant DNA research methods are highly specula- 
tive; as are the many risks hypothesized. He did suggest several 
areas where important advantages might be obtained. He cited the 
desirability of increasing the nitrogen fixing capability of important 
agricultural crops in order to decrease dependence upon artificial 
synthesis of nitrogen containing fertilizers. He also suggested the 
possibility of constructing biological controls for important insect 
pests which might provide a high degree of specificity of control 
with no danger to the environment. Other areas perceived as important 
fields of investigation would involve modification to improve the 
efficiency of photosynthesis, the construction of hybrid organisms to 
improve the efficiency of the digestive processes in ruminant animals, 
and acceleration of the acquisition of the basic knowledge about life 
processes generally. In fact, as noted by Dr. Wald, in his opinion the 
only sure benefits from DNA recombinant molecule research are going 
to be clarification of basic biological problems. 
Dr. Baltimore 
Two basic risks in DNA recombinant molecule research were 
identified by Dr. Baltimore. One of these is the ever present possi- 
bility that deliberate misuse of the knowledge of DNA recombinant 
research might lead to harm, while the other is the social misuse of 
the technique. In the first category biological warfare is an issue, in 
the other, genetic engineering of human beings might be a possibility. 
The International Biological Weapons Convention prohibits research 
for developing biological warfare agents and the DNA recombinant 
technique is included in the scope of the convention. In the case of 
g enetic engineering, the nearest immediate application in human 
eings is the replacement of defective or missing genes which cause 
disease. One strategy for social control of this research would be to 
prohibit its refinement. However, the possibility of being able to treat 
genetic diseases more effectively would thereby be denied. The 
potential for producing changes in hereditary characteristics which 
would be a permanent change in species is only conjectural at this 
time. 
The deliberate or accidental misuse of the technique might produce 
harm in the form of some unexpected infectious disease organism. 
This risk might occur should some harmful organism be constructed 
during experimentation. Dr. Baltimore indicated that he is much less 
concerned about this type of risk today than he was when the issue 
[Appendix B — 79] 
