18 
involvinq microorganisms to be introduced into the gut of animals, the presence 
of antibiotic resistance genes would not be desirable. 
Hr. Amtzen asked how stability was defined in Section II-B-3 of the document. 
Dr. Gottesman said this item referred to the stability of the recombinant DMA 
in the modified organism. Dr. Amtzen pointed out that during industrial fermen- 
tations parts of plasmids are lost; he questioned whether there were perfectly 
stable plasmids. Dr. Clowes said naturally occurring plasmids are stable; 
plasmid constructs are unstable. Dr. Tolin said information on plasmid sta- 
bility should be elicited by the working group document. She said a plasmid 
may be more or less stable in the field than in the laboratory, but this should 
be known. 
Dr. Arntzen asked what information on expression was being requested in Section 
II-B-3. Dr. Gottesman said information on the level of expression should be 
provided. Dr. Vidaver said the conditions of expression should be detailed. 
Dr. Lacy asked if the language of Section II-B-3 implies a protein product. 
Dr. Clowes said he assumed the language referred to transcription and transla- 
tion. Dr. Vidaver said an inserted DNA segment may exert an important effect 
even if it is not expressed through transcription and. translation. Dr. Tolin 
agreed, noting that a physiological trait of the organism might be affected 
through a "blocking" action of the inserted DNA segment; she suggested the 
lanquage of the document should encompass these possibilities. 
Dr. Arntzen thought the Gottesman document (Attachment XI) should explicitly 
state these concepts. Dr. Miller disagreed; he said vagueness is actually 
flexibility. If the language is slightly vague, the investigator does not feel 
bound; he thought investigators feel bound by too much detail. 
Dr. Gottesman then called the working group's attention to part III of the 
proposed Gottesman document and asked the working group vhat ecological con- 
siderations would appropriately be added to this part. Dr. Tolin suggested 
the first paragraph of part III should focus on the likelihood of adverse 
effects. 
Dr. Colwell suggested the following language discussing conditions affecting 
survival, multiplication, and dissemination of organisms be taken from the EPA 
document. Points to Consider in the Preparation of TSCA Manufacture Notices 
for Genetically-Engineered Microorganisms (Attachment VIII ), and substituted 
for the second paragraph in part III of the Gottesman document (Attachment XI): 
"o Growth characteristics in microcosms or other simulated natural environ- 
ments, with consideration of persistence o/er various, appropriate 
periods of time; 
"o Known and predicted environmental conditions \*hich affect survival, 
multiplication, dissemination." 
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