Date 
From 
Subject 
To 
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES 
October 18, 1984 
National Institutes of Health 
National Cancer Institute 
Memorandum 
Chief, Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, DTP, DCT, NCI 
Proposed Amendments to NIH Guidelines 
Director, Office of Recombinant DNA Activities 
Bldg. 31 , Room 3B10 
I am responding to the invitation from Public Comment on the proposals 
to be considered by the NIH Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee to 
prohibit experiments involving mammalian gene transfer. My laboratory 
is not now and will not in the foreseable future be engaged in this 
type of work, so that the proposed actions will in no way affect my 
laboratory program. 
I am strongly opposed to the two amendments sponsored by Jeremy Rifkin 
of the Foundation on Economic Trends. The proposed amendments would 
invoke very broad restrictions covering all gene transfers between the 
germ lines of unrelated mammalian species, including humans. Because 
of the great variety of experiments that are possible, one cannot 
foresee the ultimate benefit or detriment. It seems to me that this 
type of research could lead to extraordinary benefit to mankind. 
Technological advances generally can be abused, and we do need better 
monitoring of specific areas to which new technology will be applied. 
But blanket restrictions such as those proposed would cripple science 
and its potential for solving human problems. 
0L 
Kurt W. Kohn, M.D., Ph.D. 
[ 543 ] 
