THE GRADUATE SCHOOL 
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON 
BASCOM HALL 
MADISON, WISCONSIN 53706 
September 24, 1984 
Dr. William J. Gartland 
Executive Secretary, RAC 
National Institute of Allergy 
and Infectious Diseases 
National Institutes of Health 
Bethesda, MD 20205 
Dear Dr. Gartland: 
I am a Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and have 
taught and published for thirty-two years on the subjects of biological 
function, genetics, evolution and nucleic acid structure. I urge the 
Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee to consider proposals to introduce 
modified genes into the germ line of living organisms on the merits of 
each proposed experiment. The benefits of new understanding, amelioration 
of genetic, autoimmune or infectious disease and release of man and animals 
from some disorders vestigial to our evolution in a differently hostile 
environment are values which can be compared to any potential or hypothetical 
costs to society. 
The simplistic, authoritarian edict proposed by Rif kin is not supportable 
by scientific understanding of natural or synthetic genes and their impact 
on species into which they are introduced. 
Rifkin's edict could sentence humans to continued suffering from 
autoimmune and genetic disease even after future understanding shows safe 
ways to prevent such suffering and loss of life. 
Rifkin appears to be asking a governmental policy based on some mystic 
ethos and morality neither properly documented as to their basis nor 
properly a role of government intervention even if the philosophical basis 
had been defined. 
The Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee should continue to evolve 
guidelines and recommendations based on safety, documented risks and 
benefit to society. I recommend rejection of Rifkin's two proposals. 
Topic: Rifkin letters of August 21 and 23 
to Talbot 
Sincerely yours. 
Robert M. Bock 
Dean 
RMB: rm 
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