CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON 
Department of Embryology 
11S West University Parkway 
Baltimore, Maryland 21210 
TELEPHONE: 467-1414 
October 17, 1984 
Di rector 
Office of Recombinant DNA Activities 
Building 31, Room 3B10 
National Institutes of Health 
Bethesda, Maryland 20205 
Dear Director: 
I wish to comment briefly upon recent proposals made to the RAC by Mr. Jeremy 
Rifkin to ban the transfer of genetic information between species. I am speaking 
as a scientist who is very much concerned about human welfare and as a member of 
the Muscular Dystrophy Association Scientific Advisory Board. 
Over the past few years I have seen the development of some real promise for 
the cure of formerly incurable genetic disorders such as muscular dystrophy and 
cystic fibrosis. For the first time, it seems likely that these horrible burdens 
man has always born will soon yield to the advances in molecular genetics. If 
there were ever an appropriate time to repress scientific investigation, this 
is surely not it. 
Without taking serious risk we are now able to use gene transfer to learn the 
molecular nature of these terrible genetic disorders. Without taking serious risk 
we are approaching the point at which it will be practical to consider molecular 
level intervention to actually cure these diseases and in some cases to rid the 
world of these diseases. In my opinion it would be morally and ethically wrong to 
stand by now and not bring these cures into being. As I understand Mr. Rifkin 's 
argument, the reason for his suggestion that gene transfer experiments be disallowed 
has to do with some ethical and moral concern for purity of species. I see no 
merit in his point of view on ethical and moral grounds. I do see a sort of 
parallel between his view and racist views of the past in which racial "purity" 
was elevated to the level of a moral imperative. We know what that led to ; I 
am solidly for continuing the pursuit of knowledge for the benefit of mankind, 
and I see recombinant DNA research clearly aimed in this direction. Thus, I 
wholeheartedly disagree with Mr. Rifkin's position and urge rejection of his 
suggestions to repress gene transfer experiments. 
Sincerely yours, 
Douglas M. Fambrough 
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