Athens County Board of Mental Retardation 
and Developmental Disabilities 
801 W. Union Street 
Athens. Ohio 45701 
614/594-3539 
Beacon School 
October 10, 1984 
Athens County Sheltered 
Workshop [ ATCO . Inc.] 
Director 
Office Recombinant DNA Activities 
Building 31 
Room 3B10 
National Institute of Health 
Bethesda, Maryland 20205 
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: 
RE: Proposed Addition of Prohibited Experiments to the Guidelines 
It has come to our attention that a representative of the 
Foundation on Economic Trends, Washington, D.C. submitted a letter 
to the National Institutes of Health to amend guidelines for recom- 
binant DNA experimentation to prohibit any experimentation involv- 
ing the transfer of a genetic trait from a human being into the germ 
line of another mammalian species and to also prohibit any experimen- 
tation involving the transfer of a genetic trait from any mammalian 
species into the germ of a human being. 
We do not support this recommendation. Research utilizing this 
procedure could be very helpful to many populations. One research 
area presently utilizing this procedure is a search for the cure of 
met achromatic leukodystrophy which handicaps children at an early age. 
If this procedure is prohibited, the search for a cure for this 
genetic problem will be limited and this would be disastrous to many 
young children. 
Our school personnel work with a family who have two young daugh- 
ters with a diagnosis of metachromat ic leukodystrophy. There are many 
genetic diseases as well as cancer, which could be cured or eliminated 
through continuing research in recombinant DNA. 
It is our hope that you will continue recombinant DNA research so 
more people will have an opportunity to become healthy, happy, produc- 
tive individuals. 
Sincerely 
William ii . Korner 
Business Manager 
[ 510 ] 
