10 OLD BOONTON POAD 
WOLFGANG JOCHLE ASSOCIATES INC- 
CONSULTING VETERINARY SCIENTISTS AND THERIOGENOLOOISTS 
DR. WOLFGANG JOCHLE. PRESIDENT 
Director 
Office of Recombinant DNA Activities 
Building 31, Room 3 B 10 
National Institute of Health 
Bethesda, MD 20203 
DENVILLE N J 07834 USA 
(2011 627-6166 
Telex 13 6479 An 64 
Oct. 05, 1984 
665/84 
Re: 3 eremy Rifkin’s request to halt interspecies gene exchanged Federal Register / 
Vol.49 No. 184 / September 20, 1984, 37018 ) 
Sir, 
Man's involvement with biotechnology in general, and with gene manipulation specifically, 
began with 
(a) the domestication of plants and animals, 10 to 15,000 years ago; 
(b) the castration of animals (and man) which must have been exercised soon thereafter; 
and with 
(c) crossbreeding, i.e. the interspecies mixing of genes, which is known to have occurred 
at least 4 to 5,000 years ago (e.g. the production of mules and hinnies). 
All of these achievements are uniformly regarded as triumphs in man's civilisatory 
advancement and cornerstones of mankinds culture. Corn (maize) is an example of man 
exploiting early on natural occurring interspecies gene exchange. Without all these 
achievements, mankind's history, development and our present level of civilisation would 
be unthinkable. Man altered nature to better mankind's chance for survival. By 
"disregarding" rights of other species, man only followed nature’s law that higher 
organized life frequently can survive only by killing, processing and consuming other 
forms of life. What had to be done became organized, due to man's cognitive and 
organisational abilities. 
What modern biotechnology does now, by altering microbial genetic codes or adding 
genetic information of one species to another, is the logical consequence of a line of 
human development reaching back far into mankind’s history. Denying it because it can be 
misused, as any progress has been earlier or later, is denying mankind essential tools for 
survival in the future. Watching it and guiding it to the advantage of the children of this 
world, and to curtail gross misuse when it is obvious, is legitimate. 
Millions of diabetics not only survive but enjoy life by daily using animal derived insulin. 
What is wrong with the concept to use animal genes to repair distinct biochemical 
deficiencies in man like diabetes? Chances are that such animal genes and means of their 
transfer to humans at any stage of life could become available. It would be morally and 
ethically unacceptable not to use such tools for the benefit of those involved. 
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