33 
In discussing the idea that DNA recombinant research has the 
potential for creation of some new monstrous organism because species 
barriers can be crossed, Dr. Lewis indicated that agricultural research- 
ers have learned from more traditional work that plants and animals 
whose systems have been modified by extreme genetic modifications 
usually do not survive — there are spontaneous abortions, sterility, 
and ecological weaknesses; highly adaptive organisms are not readily 
achieved by such discordant changes. However, as may be inferred 
from comments by critics the natural “protective” mechanisms of 
removal of extremely modified organisms produced by traditional 
methods in genetics may not function following applications of the 
DNA recombinant technique: this technique is more subtle. Research- 
ers are as yet unable to be absolutely certain that the inserted DNA 
and its interaction with the total DNA is so well characterized that 
highly adaptive and undesirable life forms will not be produced and 
survive as a result of less discordant changes. In fact, one of the 
reasons for inserting a particular piece of DNA is to find out its role 
and function and the manner in which it is regulated. 
Dr. Pieczenik 
Among the several topics of interest in this scenario is the potential 
interference twith “natural” evolutionary processes and the compe- 
tition of one piece of DNA and its position relationship as contrasted 
with the “natural” sequences of DNA which have survived within an 
organism. George Pieczenik, Rutgers State University, discussed his 
research on the survival of DNA units within the total milieu of the 
cell. After associating the events hypothesized with the evolution of a 
particular combination of genes within an organism, Dr. Pieczenik 
indicated that he believed that the chance of an extreme taxonomic 
cross of DNA expressing its information would be very unlikely. 
He supported his observation by reviewing the number of events 
which would have to be favorable in order for an artifically constructed 
genome (gene series) to be successfully established in competition with 
other series. He has examined this issue and arrived at his conclusions 
on the basis of a theory that DNA survival within a cell is analogous 
to survival of an organism within an environment. That is, competi- 
tion for substrates within the cell determines whether a particular 
sequence confers a survival advantage for a cell in competition with 
other DNA sequences. 
He also expressed the opinion, however, that vestigial or even 
random expressions of DNA functions are much more likely to occur 
considering the present level of research competence. Thus he per- 
ceives events which are unexpected to be more of a problem than the 
changes which are deliberately being attempted. Accordingly, he does 
not see any immediate hazard or benefit from artificial DNA selec- 
tion — that is, laboratory initiated construction of DNA recombinant 
molecules. Nevertheless, he does believe that there are certain steps 
which should be taken with regard to the regulation of DNA research. 
These include : (1) the oversight of the research should be conducted 
by scientists not directly involved in the work; (2) any regulating 
board should provide for membership from informed lay public, 
journalists, political representatives, union representatives, 1 ? 7 and 
scientists not involved in the directly related fields; (3) the back- 
ground of the members of any scientific advisory board should be' free 
[Appendix B — 82] 
