21 
Dr. Friedman first addressed Mr. Rifkin's statement that the American public 
is not educated. Dr. Friedman said in fact the American public is educated 
and has made a basic decision that research on animals to ameliorate human 
disease is not only acceptable tut should be done. 
Dr. Friedman said one person's ethics may differ from another's. In his 
mini, treating human diseases and alleviating human suffering is a primary 
moral inperati\* 2 . Dr. Friedman said Mr. Rifkin's proposal would eliminate 
one method of researching certain diseases and making broad gains in the 
therapy of these diseases. 
Dr. Friedman said the language of Mr. Rifkin's proposal is very vague. For 
exanple, the term "genetic trait" is used but not defined. One could argue 
that a whole gene could be transferred without affecting a genetic trait; 
e.g., eye color may depend on a number of genes, and transferring one of 
these genes may not charge eye color. 
Dr. Friedman said it is difficult to define a unique gene because in some 
cases the gene of one species differs fron the gene of another species by 
a single base pair. The differences within members of the species may be 
mare bread than the differences between the species. In addition, gene 
exchange between species probably occurs in nature; viruses pick up genetic 
material and probably carry such material across species lines. 
Dr. Gottesman reviewed the current status of gene transfer experiments 
under the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant fWA Molecules: 
(1) any experiment which involves the introduction of reccnbinant DNA into 
humans must be reviewed by RAC and approved by NIH; this would include both 
proposed introduction into somatic or germline cells although no germline 
experiments are anticipated in the near future; and (2) experiments in 
which reccnbinant DNA is introduced into animals are covered by Section 
III-B of the Guidelines and are subject to review and approval by the 
local IBC. 
Dr. Gottesman said gene transfer experiments are an important tool through 
which questions about gene regulation and the development of complex systems 
such as animals or humans can be addressed . She pointed out that at this 
time no other method exists for approaching these types of studies. 
Dr. Gottesman said these studies will result in advances in treating human 
diseases, in treating animal diseases, and in using anirmls more efficiently 
as food sources. She said Mr. Rifkin's proposal would prohibit these 
types of experiments and would step extremely important research. 
Dr. Gottesman said she is aware of the controversy surrounding the ethics 
of using animals in research; however, the viewpoint that animals should 
not be used in research is one which she did not share. She did not think 
the majority of people in this country shared this viewpoint. She thought 
most people would come down very strongly in favor of using animal models 
to test disease therapies. 
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