Thie Rockefeller Foundation 
1133 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, NEW YORK, N.Y. 10036 
SHELDON J. SEGAL, Ph. D. 
DIRECTOR, POPULATION DIVISION 
CABLE: ROCKFOUND NEW YORK 
TELEPHOKE: (21 2) 8 6 9 - 8 5 0 0 
September 19, 1984 
Dear Dr. Gartland: 
I am writing to express my concern over the proposed amendment to 
the NIH guidelines for recombinant DNA experimentation which will be 
considered at the meeting of the RAC in October. The amendment deals 
with "the transfer of a genetic trait from one mammalian species into 
the germ line of another..." 
In effect, this amendment would proscribe experimentation 
involving the transfer of a DNA sequence that is found in one mammalian 
species into oogonial or spermatogonial cell lines of any other species. 
This amendment would seriously damage research efforts in 
developmental biology and oncology. Such a proscription would also 
prevent an important line of research of the application of molecular 
biology to the study of evolution and phylogeny. 
It is now clear that many gene sequences for particular enzymes, 
and protein hormones are not species specific. How such heterospecific 
DNA structures would be classified in the context of the vague term 
"genetic trait" is unclear. In my opinion, the amendment would 
introduce non-scientif ic chaos into the deliberations of the NIH. 
I urge the RAC to disapprove the proposed amendment. 
Dr. William Gartland 
Executive Secretary 
Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee 
National Institutes of Health 
Building 31, Room 3B10 
9000 Rockville Pike 
Bethesda, Maryland 20205 
Very truly yours 
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