2 
Rowe/Martin experiment poses no added risk to humans or the 
environment because: (1) polyoma virus (the animal virus being 
used) does not itself grow in human cells and has not been 
shown to be associated with any human diseases; (2) it is 
already widely disseminated in the environment, as evidenced 
by its recovery from the urine and saliva of both urban and 
rural populations of wild mice; and (3) in the laboratory, 
it produces tumors only when injected into newborn hamsters 
and mice (tumors have never been found in wild mice) . 
3. The Environmental Impact Statement (at page 4) 
emphasizes the fact that the current Guidelines are very 
conservative. The purpose of the Rowe/Martin experiment is 
to develop information which will be used in assessing whether 
the containment levels specified in the Guidelines are 
appropriate. It must be emphasized, however, that the planned 
experiment will still conform to the Guidelines as fully as 
any other research project involving the same materials and 
techniques . 
4. Further delay in the conduct of this experiment 
will significantly hinder our ability to critically evaluate 
hypothetical risks associated with recombinant DNA research 
which may warrant changes in the Guidelines. A continuing 
inability to conduct this experiment is likely to result in 
delaying significant changes in the Guidelines that may be 
scientifically desirable. 
SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO 
BEFORE ME THIS 30th DAY 
OF DECEMBER, 1977. 
E. Nutter,' Ph.D. 
Office of Specialized 
Research and Facilities 
National Institute of Allergy 
and Infectious Diseases 
National Institutes of Health 
Notary Public 
My comnission expires 7/, t*??# 
[Appendix C — 108] 
