4 
Symbiotic nitrogen fixation involving the mutually 
beneficial collaboration between root nodule bacteria and 
clover, vetch, and soybeans, is presently limited to leguminous 
host plants. Recombinant DNA technology may lead to broader 
host range with ultimate ability for nitrogen fixation among 
cereal plants. Higher crop yields at substantially lower 
cost would be the beneficial result of such advances. 
3 . Fundamental Scientific Research 
Recombinant DNA research will reveal the secrets of the 
innermost workings of the cell. We will know a great deal 
more about mechanisms of celular dif f erentation whereby seme 
of the cells of the body form skin, others_ form muscle -or 
skeletal tissue, and still other aggregate to form highly 
specialized organs, such as the heart, lungs, spleen, pancreas, 
etc. We will know more about the controlling mechanisms 
whereby normal cells become transformed into cancerous 
cells, whereby some individuals and some tissues are more 
susceptible to disease than others, and whereby some diseases 
are inherently genetic in character and are passed from 
parent to offspring. 
The first important data toward understanding regulation 
and differentiation have now been gathered. It is now 
possible to obtain highly purified strands of DNA from a 
variety of bacterial and mammalian cell sources. In order 
for this kind of work to proceed intelligently, we must have 
the answers to certain fundamental problems. The polyoma 
virus experiments proposed for the Ft. Detrick P-4 facility 
will provide some of these answers. 
4 . Benefit of the Ft. Detrick Experiment 
As explained in the test protocol, the Ft. Detrick 
experiment will help to determine if such rigid containment 
as represented by a P-4 laboratory is necessary. If the best 
[Appendix C — 14b J 
