11 
specifically certified to make escape virtually impossible, 
combined with biological containment so that if any research 
material did escape it could not survive, insure that there 
is virtually no possibility of any adverse environmental impact 
from this experiment. 
II. Plaintiff Misunderstands The Host 
To Be Used In the Experiment Here. 
Plaintiff appears to believe that the experiment 
here in question will be conducted utilizing common strains 
of Escherichia coli ( E . coli ) as the host bacterium for the 
planned studies. (See complaint, 119). Such strains of E_;_ coli 
do have an ability to survive in nature, and do "live in people." 
During the past 35 years, scientists around the world have 
used a strain of E^_ coli ( E . coli K-12) which has been adapted 
for use in laboratory studies. E^ coli K-12 is unable to 
colonize the human intestinal tract, causes no known human 
or animal disease and poses no threat to the environment. See 
EIS at 73. In the planned experiment, a derivative of coli 
K-12, which has been specifically designed to "self-destruct", 
will be employed. This EK2 host-vector system will not survive 
passage through the intestinal tract of animals and would 
"die" because of its dependency on chemicals not found in 
nature. For each certified EK2 system (listed on page H-10 
of the EIS) NIH reviews extensive scientific data to determine 
that the system meets the Guideline standards for safety. 
EIS at 81. See NIH Guidelines, EIS App. D, p. 15. Thus, there 
is actually a two-step distinction between the common strains 
4/ The P4 facility is completely isolated from all other areas 
of the building and has various engineering facilities 
designed to prevent the escape of micro-organisms. In addition, 
all recombinant DNA materials are handled in gas-tight biological 
safety cabinets and are removed only after sterilization. More 
detail concerning P4 containment is found in the EIS at 51-52. 
[Appendix C — 119] 
