SUMMARY OF FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 
The subcommittee finds that the use of recombinant DNA tech- 
niques is rapidly increasing scientific understanding of basic biological 
phenomena and is likely to have important applications in the manu- 
facture of drugs and industrial enzymes, waste treatment, production 
of food crops, and treatment of genetically related diseases. In the 
absence of confirmed hazards, the benefits that have been and may be 
derived from research with recombinant DNA molecules justify its 
continuation and support by the F ederal Government and the private 
sector. 
As a result of apprenhensions about its effects on health and the 
environment, however, recombinant DNA research has been sub- 
ject to various restrictions, principally the 1976 guidelines govern- 
ing research supported by the National Institutes of Health. Re- 
cent scientific data indicate that permissible experiments employing 
NIH-approved host organisms and vectors do not pose significant 
risks to laboratory workers, the public, or the environment. Un- 
certainty remains, however, about the safety of experiments with 
other materials and about the hazards that may be associated with 
future uses of the technology, including the large-scale produc- 
tion of organisms with recombinant DNA and their release into 
the environment for presumably beneficial purposes. These uncer- 
tainties, which will be resolved over the course of years, justify con- 
tinued exercise of caution in both research and commercial applica- 
tions of recombinant DNA techniques. 
Current Federal guidelines requiring the use of precautionary meas- 
ures are nevertheless deficient in several respects. The National Insti- 
tutes of Health lack authority to monitor and enforce compliance with 
the guidelines by those engaged in research supported by private funds 
or other Federal agencies. It is doubtful, in any case, whether enforce- 
ment by the principal Government sponsor of recombinant DNA 
research is appropriate and will be effective. As presently written 
and administered, the guidelines do not fully insure the account- 
ability of institutions and investigators. The relationship between 
Federal and State and local government regulations is unsettled and 
controversial. Procedures are unclear for revising the standards to 
reflect new scientific evidence relating to the possible hazards or ab- 
sence of hazards associated with recombinant DNA research. The 
standards do not purport to deal with its prospective commercial 
applications and the concerns they raise. 
Research 
The subcommittee believes that the NIH standards should be ap- 
plied to all recombinant DNA research regardless of its locale or 
sources of financial support. This can be accomplished by legislation 
(vn) 
[Appendix B — 258] 
