Or. William Gartland 
Page two 
All of the experiments described to date Involve transfer of 
genes from bacteria, viruses and various mammalian (rat, rabbit, 
human) species Into mice. The first experiments were reported In 
1980 and there have been over 20 scientific articles employing these 
techniques since. Unlike many scientific endeavors, these 
experiments have received wide scientific and public attention. 
Starting In 1981, there have been numerous popular articles 
describing experiments of gene transfer between mammalian species. 
Our own work describing the transfer of rat and human growth hormone 
genes Into mice has been described In such places as The New York 
Times, The Wall Street Journal , many local newspapers and Sunday 
supplements, as well as In Omni . Time and Newsweek . The experiments 
have also been described and discussed on TV and radio. Despite 
this widespread publicity, there has been virtually no negative 
public reaction, except to the grossly exaggerated stories of 
phenomonal animal growth. The reports generally emphasize the great 
potential of these new techniques (see below). The public has been 
exposed to the scientific developments as they have been made and no 
one has expressed the opinion that these experiments violate the 
"telos" of mice. We have also made It clear that we feel that this 
approach might well be applied to domestic animals. Even this 
extension of the gene tranfer techniques from the laboratory to the 
farm has not prompted public outcry. Although one could elicit 
public outcry on both sides of any topic by appropriate techniques. 
It seems that the public has accepted gene transfer between species 
as a reasonable way to ask basic scientific questions and possibly 
provide benefits to mankind. 
Gene transfer between mammalian species Incurs few risks. The 
original function of the Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee was to 
assess the risks associated with gene transfer between species. 
While certain risks were perceived, especially with micro-organisms, 
most of the fears have proven to be unwarranted. With mammals, the 
risks are minimal. The worst case scenario would Involve escape of 
a laboratory or farm animal, but It Is difficult to perceive how a 
genetically modified animal would represent any special threat to 
man or his environment. Unlike micro-organisms and insects. It Is 
not difficult to contain and monitor mammals. Because there Is 
little risk Involved In the experiments, Rlfkln Is essentially 
asking this agency to make an ethical judgment about gene transfer 
between species. This Issue was raised In the past but it was not 
adopted as part of the N1H guidelines. 
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