2 
the tumor producing genes) of the above described polyoma virus 
will be spliced onto a bacterial virus (called lambda phage) or a 
plasmid, which is a self- replicating piece of DNA, akin to a virus. 
The plasmid or phage containing the polyoma tumor virus genes will 
then be inserted into E. coli, where it will be replicated. Whether 
an E. coli bacterium that contains the genetic information for 
polyoma tumor virus production will cause cancer in humans or 
other warm blooded animals, or what kinds of cancers it will cause, 
what their symptoms will be, how they can be treated, or anything 
else about the nature of this new organism is unknown. Such an 
organism is not known to exist in nature. 
4. Although precautions may be devised against the escape 
of the newly created organisms, we know from past experience that 
human error is unavoidable, and the consequences of escape into 
the atmosphere of the newly created organisms may occur. Because of 
their novelty, the effect upon the environment of the new organisms 
and the symptoms of their action upon the environment can not be 
known in advance. The nature of the organisms to be created by 
this research is such that, if released from containment, they may 
remain dormant in the environment for a substantial period of time, 
and continue to possess the potential for infecting the environment. 
In addition, the natures of the organisms are likely to be such that 
it would be only after a substantial amount of the population is 
infected that the trouble could be traced to these organisms, and 
by this time the infection can have spread far and wide. This is 
due in part to the fact that the organisms may evoke symptoms that 
[Appendix C — 66] 
