j 
I do not think that such transfers should be done. Despite this feeling, I 
do not believe that the National Institutes of Health should make a 
permanent prohibition against such procedures* It is possible that 
judicious use of this procedure might be called for in certain circumstances 
or shall result in important and unique information. I feel that such a 
procedure should be utilized only after rigorous scrutiny by appropriate 
oversight committees or panels. 
In Mr. Rifkin's letter of August 21, 1984, he proposes further that 
"the same principle of species integrity ought to apply ... to non-mammalian 
species" (page 37017). In other words, Mr. Rifkin proposes that the 
National Institutes of Health prohibit transfer of genetic traits, for 
example, from mammals and other organisms into bacteria and yeast. Such a 
prohibition would have disasterous consequences on many levels. First, it 
would stop dead in its tracks the greatest revolution in understanding of 
the natural world that has ever taken place: the technique of cloning (that 
is, isolating) individual genes from complex organisms is providing a flood 
of information and insights that is unprecedented. Secondly, the practical 
consequences of these types of genetic transfers for production of 
biological products and reagents are immense. The technique of genetic 
trait transfer is an essential cornerstone in both of these broad areas. 
With respect to the latter, the United States is without question the world 
leader in development and utilization of biotechnology. It is crucial to 
maintain and sustain this critical technology and to nurture it wisely. In 
the same spirit, it is fundamental discoveries from basic science that 
launched the biotechnology industry and that fuel its continued progress. 
Prohibition of these types of genetic trait transfers would cripple modern 
bio-medical science and biotechnology. 
Sincerely yours, 
Dr. Ira Herskowitz 
Professor and Vice-Chairman, 
Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics 
Head, Division of Genetics 
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