TUFTS UNIVERSITY 
Department of Urban and 
Environmental Policy 
September 15, 1986 
Dr. William Gartland 
Director, Office of Recombinant DNA Activities 
Bind! ing 31, Rm. 3B10 
National Institutes of Health 
Bethesda, MD 20892 
Dear Dr. Gartland: 
I am writing to register my support for the proposal submitted 
to the RAC by the Committee for Responsible Genetics (Fed. Reg. 51(122), 
June 25, 1986). 
It seems to me that the two areas cited by the CRG, namely, somatic cell 
human gene therapy for other than life-threatening or severely disabling 
conditions and manipulation of human germ line cells represent applications 
of genetic engineering for which there is still considerable public unease. 
I recognize that the RAC does not at present entertain proposals for germ-line 
alterations. Why then shouldn't this be stated in the guidelines? There have been 
many instances in which the guidelines prohibited certain classes of experiments 
until more was known about the risks. These prohibitions were removed subsequently. 
However, the existence of those prohibitions dtd not restrict policy discussions 
about these types of experiments nor did they close off certain areas of inquiry. 
The CRG proposal follows the tradition of the earlier guidelines: when entering 
an area of research with unknown risks whether related to ethics or biohazards, 
it is reasonable to set clear boundaries, at least initially, until one can 
be confident of a substantial consensus. 
I find the recommendations of the RAC Working Group on Human Gene Therapy 
in response to the CRG proposal rather curious (August 8, 1986 memo). 
The Working Group states that an explicit prohibition of certain forms of 
human gene therapy in the guidelines would impede public discussion of the general 
policy issues. Precisely the opposite took place when certain classes of experiments 
were prohibited. When the boundaries are made explicit, public discussion is 
enhanced, for there is at least a principle to which one can address. 
idelines have been used as a standard by many nations of the world, 
reasc/n then to make what is explicit and implicit in the "Points to 
a part of the guidelines since it will continue to serve this useful 
ona/i/ function. 
fours, 
iMvifp 
Krjmsky,/ Ph.D. 
Irofes'sor 
Jmsetts 02155 
6p 628-5000, extension 3394 
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