7 
"The role of the nonmodified organism in the environment of the test site 
is essentially understood, including any adverse effects on other organisms." 
Dr. Fedoroff thought the declarative format would not elicit the desired informa- 
tion. Dr. Sharpies suggested these items should be in the form of "points for 
consideration" rather in the form of declarative statements. The working group 
agreed to this format change. Dr. Colwell suggested the words "is essentially 
understood" should be deleted from this section. The working group agreed to 
these preposed modifications. 
Dr. McGarrity then drew the attention of the working greup to Section V-A-2 
vshich reads as follows: 
"Analysis of the genetic modification (e.g., deletion, insertion, modifica- 
tion of specific DNA sequences) would predict that the probability of 
adverse effects on the environment is lew. " 
Dr. Fedoroff questioned the intended purpose of Section V-A-2. She suggested 
this section as written asks investigators to give their best guess. 
Dr. Gottesman suggested Sections V-A-2 and V-A-3 might be combined into a 
single section addressing both the genetic modification and an evaluation of 
the predicted effect. 
Dr. Pircne did not feel these sections should be combined. He felt Section 
V-A-2 requests distinctly different information than Section V-A-3. 
Dr. Pimentel said Section V-A-2 requests information on the genetic modifica- 
tion; Section V-A-3 should request information on the potential effects of the 
modified organism on the environment . Dr. Colwell thought Section V-A-2 
requested information on the construction of the organism. He felt this 
section should also elicit information on whether the introduced genetic 
information might be transferred to other organisms. Drs. Colwell and Pimentel 
felt combining Sections V-A-2 and V-A-3 would create a very complex information 
request. 
Dr. Fedoroff thought the document should ask for an evaluation of the possibility 
the introduced genetic modification might result in adverse effects on the 
environment. Dr. Arntzen thought Dr. Fedoroff 's preposed information request 
would be too global. Section V-A-2 should simply request information about 
the organism's stability. 
Dr. Hirano suggested Section V-A-2 should request "an evaluation of the 
risk associated with the procedures used to modify the organism. " 
Dr. Pramer thought Section V-A-2 should address the concept that the genetic 
modification either poses no risk or presents a quantifiable risk to the 
envi reorient. Dr. Fedoroff said the genetic modification does not affect the 
environment; rather the modified organism affects the environment. 
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