- 2 - 
I sympathize with the "special interest"* which is, to accelerate the 
present course of some potentially rewarding genetic research investi- 
gations through the use of some potentially hazardous recombinant DNA’s, 
Using such technique, one may be able to first separate and then recom- 
bine some specific bacterial genes and viral genes ••• and then clone 
such hybrid combinations in bacteria ••• and so obtain, much cheaper and 
much faster, enormous amounts of special test material for experiments 
with very many test animals. However, such an abundance of hybrid micro- 
organisms poses potential hazards, of yet unknown extent, to laboratory 
workers, the general public, and the environment. 
In conclusion, I believe that a comprehensive Risk Assessment Program 
is needed to focus on obtaining safety data from every stage of design 
and use of this "technique and vehicle of accelerated genetic research". 
To ensure investigators’ facility and commitment to such tasks and goals, 
I believe that a proper Environmental Impact Statement must Include an 
indication that the NIH Director has taken into serious consideration the 
impacts (on his laboratory workers, the general public, and the environ- 
ment) of those proposed experiments, through statements of special duties 
and responsibilities assigned to a Safety Officer and a Safety Manager, 
each designated distinctively for both full time work on such intramural. 
NIH actions and as models for control of such funded extramural NIH tasks. 
To this effect, I have made several written recommendations to the NIH 
Director and, upon request, I would be happy to provide the Court with 
copies of all my correspondence with NIH officials on this matter. 
Finally, I believe that it might be in the best interest of the general 
public, as well as my own, to have this letter red in Court, thus trans- 
mitting its contents simultaneously to both sides of this case. 
Thank you. 
Respectfully submitted. 
Naum S, Bers, Ph.D. 
P.0. Box 1692 
Rockville, Maryland 208^0 
[Appendix C — 182] 
