Department of Mathematics 
Duke University 
Durham, NC 27706 
17 October 1984 
Director, Office of Recombinant DNA Activities 
Building 31, Room 3B10 
National Institutes of Health 
Bethesda, Maryland 20205 
Dear Sir: 
Friends have informed me of Jeremy Rifkin’s proposal to limit 
certain types of recombinant DNA research. I am told that the 
proposal could have a debilitating effect on research toward effective 
treatment of genetic disorders such as metachromat ic leukodystrophy, 
sickle-cell anemia, and diabetes. 
Ulhile I recognize that there are dangers in recombinant DNA 
research, I nonetheless feel that low-risk research with high 
potential pay-off should be encouraged. 
My friends have a personal stake in this matter — two daughters 
who face almost certain death from me tachromat i c leukodystrophy unless 
there is a research break-through. 
Please act to establish a wise and humane policy for recombinant 
DNA research. 
Sincerely yours, 
H. Erick Layton 
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