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DR. AHMED: As a professional scientist, Dr. Davis, are you in favor of 
the proposed revised Guidelines or not, or somewhere in between? 
DR. DAVIS: I think I said yesterday that I consider the proposed re- 
vision a step in the right direction, and the political decision which we 
discussed last evening as a part of the process. I would not object to the 
political decision that this is as far as one ought to go at this stage. On 
the other hand, I think that on the basis of the scientific evidence, the 
relaxation in a number of areas has not gone far enough. So I am not opposed 
to the proposed revision, but I would be very happy to see further relaxation 
introduced on the basis of the evidence that has accumulated in the last two 
years . 
DR. AHMED: Well, let me follow this up. You made several statements 
philosophically about how regulations or bureaucracy may tamper with scien- 
tific creativity. How do you see these Guidelines having an effect on 
scientists to really be creative in their own field of endeavor? 
DR. DAVIS: Oh, I think that the present Guidelines have quite signifi- 
cantly hampered many kinds of biological research that could benefit from 
work on recombinant DNA. It has discouraged people in many lines of inves- 
tigation from taking the trouble when they get an idea in which recombinant 
DNA-- I have had the same experience in our lab. You think of something 
that you might — you know, science doesn't proceed in a terribly long-term 
planned way, although you have to make grant applications. But the impor- 
tant decisions are made day by day, and you do an experiment, and you get an 
idea, and you think of doing something. Then if it is easy to do, you do 
it. If it is harder, you have to be more convinced that it has a high enough 
priority to be worthwhile. If you see that you have to engage now in a good 
deal of bureaucratic activity, you will do it if you want to set up a large 
program, but if you get an idea today for a single recombinant DNA experiment 
that would be quite easy to do, you are not likely to do it. 
DR. AHMED: So you are basically in favor of all the Guidelines with 
respect to biohazards committees, although you quibbled about the word about 
community something. And you are generally in agreement with Section IV. 
Is that correct? 
DR. DAVIS: I believe I have already stated that I do not object to 
the proposed revision of the Guidelines. I would prefer to see some changes, 
but I do not object to them. 
DR. FREDRICKSON: Dr. Sturgis. 
DR. STURGIS: The public is in an agony of apprehension about this whole 
area, and you say that the benefits are infinitely larger than, for instance, 
research in the Legionnaire's Disease, which is close to my heart, coming 
from Philadelphia. Don't you think it would be helpful if we talked a little 
more about the benefits so that the public would have some reassurance? We 
talk so much amount the possible risks. 
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