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gastroenteritis, it can cause pneumonia, it can cause meningitis; I mean, 
there are a variety of diseases that it can cause. But those are pathogenic 
strains. E. coli K-12 is related to the majority of E. coli as apples and 
pears are related; they are fruits. E. coli is a taxon. Lots of things 
were put into that taxonomic group, which probably, if someone were to care- 
fully go through it on the basis of GC content or whatever the biochemical, 
taxonomic tools are now, one could really probably set up four or five genus 
species designations from those organisms. 
I know this from some experiments that we have been involved with. If 
one were to perform biochemical tests and determine the biotype of an or- 
ganism — and there are some rapid ways of doing this with the advent of com- 
mercial diagnostic kits that are being widely used in clinical laboratories — 
using one of these kits, there are 586 biotypes of E . coli . I looked at 15 
E. coli K-12s and generated 14 biotypes. Now, of those 587 biotypes, there 
are 15 that account for — in one study the company has a computer data base, 
and they processed 50,000 E. colis . I think it is something like 37 of those 
biotypes comprise 40,000 of those 50,000 organisms. Another 50 biotypes, may- 
be 60 biotypes, comprise another large bulk. Then you have a group of about 
200 organisms which are represented once. 
DR. FREDRICKSON: Will you include that information in your — 
DR. LIBERMAN: All this information will be included. 
DR. FREDRICKSON: Very good. 
DR. LIBERMAN: Well, I wish I had more time. 
DR. FREDRICKSON: Thank you very much. 
Now, I would like to call on Mr. Thacher, please. 
MR. THACHER: I decided to pass on this section. 
DR. FREDRICKSON: Thank you very much. 
Dr . Wright . 
DR. WRIGHT: I have several points. First I would like to comment on 
Dr. Tooze's representation of the European arrangements. I wasn't sure at 
times whether he was generalizing about all the European countries at once, 
or about the position of EMBQ's standing committee. There are a few distinc- 
tions to be made there. I would just like to concentrate on the British sit- 
uation, which I know quite well from my year's experience and the examination 
of their decision process for the recombinant DNA issue. 
Dr. Tooze mentioned, I think, that in Europe we have guidelines but not 
laws. At least in Britain, that is not correct. In Britain there is a code 
of practice that has considerable legal backing in the form of the Health and 
Safety at Work Act. That Act provides for regulations to be promulgated — 
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