SOCIETY FOR THE 
STUDY OF 
REPRODUCTION 
PRESIDENT 
Robert H. Foote 
Department of Animal Science 
204 Morrison Hall 
Cornell University 
Ithaca, NY 14853 
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY 
Claude J. Cruse 
309 West Clark Street 
Champaign, I L 61820 
EDITOR 
Larry L. Ewing 
Editorial Office 
Biology of Reproduction 
624 N. Broadway, Rm. 708 
Baltimore, MD 21205 
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT 
Andrzej Bartke 
Department of Physiology 
Southern Illinois University 
School of Medicine 
Carbondale, IL 62901 
SECRETARY 
Benjamin G. Brackett 
Department of Physiology 
and Pharmacology 
College of Veterinary Medicine 
The University of Georgia 
Athens, GA 30602 
October 12, 1984 
Dr. Willi am Gartl and 
Executive Secretary 
Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee 
National Institute of Health 
Building 31, Room 3B10 
9000 Rockvi 1 1 e Pike 
Bethesda, Maryland 20205 
TREASURER 
Judith A. Ramaley 
Academic Affairs 
1400 Washington Avenue 
Administration 203 
Albany, NY 12222 
PAST PRESIDENT 
A. Rees Midgley, Jr. 
Consortium for Research in Developmental 
and Reproductive Biology 
300 North Ingalls 
University of Michigan 
Ann Arbor, Ml 48109 
DIRECTORS 
Gary D. Hodgen (85) 
The Jones Institute for 
Reproductive Medicine 
Department of Ob/Gyn 
Lewis Hall-2047 
Eastern Virginia Medical School 
Norfolk, VA 23501 
Anita H. Payne (85) 
Steroid Research Unit 
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology 
University of Michigan 
Ann Arbor, Ml 48109 
Fuller W. Bazer (86) 
Animal Sciences Department 
University of Florida 
1254 Animal Science Building 
Gainesville, F L 3261 1 
Joanne E. Fortune (86) 
823 Veterinary Research Tower 
Cornell University 
Ithaca, NY 14853 
Janice M. Bahr (87) 
University of Illinois 
1301 West Lorado Taft Drive 
Urbana, I L 61 801 
Terry M. Nett (87) 
Department of Physiology and Biophysics 
Colorado State University 
Fort Collins, CO 80523 
Dear Dr. Gartland: 
I am writing concerning the amendment proposed by 
Jeremy Rifkin on behalf of the Foundation of Economic 
Trends, 1346 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. This 
amendment would seriously compromise progress toward the 
solution of many medical, agricultural and other problems. 
The use of modern technology, such as germ plasm 
cryopreservation, embryo transfer, etc. is being utilized 
to preserve germ plasm of endangered species and the 
genetic variability and integrity of many "non-endangered" 
species. The technology is being utilized to accomplish 
the very goals that Mr. Rifkin implies are important. His 
letter infers that the present lines of research threaten 
the existence of animal species. Clearly the logic and 
application are completely contrary to the assumptions 
implied in Mr. Rifkin's letter. 
The types of experiments mentioned in the amendment 
must go forward to enable mankind to better understand 
deficiencies and maladies of animals and people. With the 
development of understanding will come solutions to some 
problems that today have no means of prevention or cure. 
While species obviously differ, many genes are 
extremely similar, if not identical. The successful study 
of human anomalies requires appropriate experiments in 
animal models or use of humans for experiments, if we are 
going to reduce the afflictions of mankind. History is 
full of encyclopedic examples of the prevention and/or cure 
of scourges of mankind resulting from wel 1 -desi gned tests 
with animal models, using as few subjects as required to 
draw valid conclusions. 
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