23 
tee. The amendment to strike “the fields of” and insert in lieu thereof 
“such fields as” is intended to broaden the scope of the appointments. 
In other sections of the bill which follow, the committee has in- 
creased the mandate of the study Commission. Although the provi- 
sions in this section are quite flexible regarding the appointment of 
staff personnel for the Commission, the committee expects that 
staffing for the Commission will not be excessive. (See estimate of 
Congressional Budget Office.) 
Section 202. Duties of the Commission 
This section assigns responsibilities to the Commission for the study 
and evaluation of recombinant DXA activities and also to other “activ- 
ities involving the genetic modification of organisms” and “genetic 
manipulation technologies”. 
It should be recognized that these are very broad terms which could 
conceivably be construed to mean that the Commission should evaluate 
the impact of all research or technological activities involving some 
direct genetic modification of organisms. The term “genetic manipula- 
tion” includes research such as recombinant DXA ; laboratory induced 
cell fusion for the purpose of producing a recombination of genetic 
material either for study of recombination processes or production of 
viable cell cultures or organisms; in vitro fertilization involving 
human or animal cells ; cloning of animals by asexual nuclear transfer ; 
direct synthesis of genes; reverse in vitro synthesis of genes (inter- 
mediate synthetic techniques using messenger RNA, etc.) ; gene ther- 
apy; and other similar techniques for reproducing or affecting the 
hereditary traits of an organism. Because such techniques may induce 
changes similar to those induced by recombinant DXA techniques, the 
Commission should consider them along with recombinant DXA in 
order to provide the Congress with recommendations on the need for 
additional legislation. 
However, such broad terminology as “genetic modification” or 
“genetic manipulation” might also be construed to mean that the Com- 
mission should take cognizance of all manner of genetic techniques. 
These would include such established techniques as selective hybrid- 
ization, common in the selective breeding of plants and animals; classic 
genetic methodologies in microbiology and virology ; vegetative clon- 
ing ; or such methods of animal propagation as artificial insemination. 
The committee does not believe that the Commission should be 
charged at this time to undertake a total assessment of the ethical, 
moral, social or other implications for the entire field of genetics. The 
ground to be covered seems too broad and complex for that. The com- 
mittee suggests, therefore, that the Commission established by H.R. 
11192 should devote its primary attention to the potential impact of 
recombinant DXA and closely associated types of genetic manipula- 
tive techniques. The short time for study involved and the rather lim- 
ited resources of the Commission must be focused in this way if the 
analysis needed by the Congress to determine the need for extension, 
modification or elimination of this experimental, two-year legislation 
is to be useful. 
As reported by the Committee oh Interstate and Foreign Com- 
merce, the Commission for the -Study, of Research and Technology 
Involving Genetic Manipulation serves two purposes in H.R. 11192. 
First, it will evaluate the operation of the interim controls as well as 
[Appendix B — 211] 
