APRIL 27-28-MINLrTES OF MEETING 
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plasnids to be used in the initial studies were constructed 
by in vitro techniques and, therefore, constitute recombinant 
plasnids. 
Members of the RAC felt that the proposed work will not generate 
any hazard, and that most, if not all, of these experiments will 
be excluded frcm the revised Guidelines under exemption (iv) for 
genetic exchangers. The RAC then unanimously passed a motion to 
ask the Director, NIH, for an exception to the current Guidelines 
in order to carry out the experiments described (except those pre- 
viously approved) because the introduction into plant pathogens of 
E . coll plasmids restructured by reccmb inant DNA techniques is 
unlikely to pose any additional hazard. As noted above, the NIH 
has already approved the introduction of EK2 vectors, constructed 
by recombinant CNA techniques, into plant pathogens. 
H. Cloning B. subtilis and E. coli DNA in B. subtilis 
The RAC reviewed an MUA submitted by Dr. Frank Young of the 
University of Rochester dealing with an experiment in which a 
chimeric plasmid composed of EC subtilis chromosomal or phage CNA 
linked to EC coli plasnid pMB9 is to be cloned in EC subtilis . 
The NIH has already approved at the PI level experiments in which 
S . aureus or B_. subtilis plasmids are used to clone EC subtilis 
chromosomal or phage CNA in EC subtilis . 
The RAC voted unanimously to approve at the P2 level the following 
experiments provided that non-reverting asporogenic host strains 
with low survival arc* utilized, and that data on these strains 
are submitted to the NIH: 
1 . The cloning in EC subtilis hosts of EC subtilis DNA on EC coli 
plasmids or phages; 
2. The cloning in EC subtilis hosts of EC coli DNA on EC coli 
plasmids or phages. 
I. Recombinant DNA Research with Bacillus popilliae and Bacillus 
thuringiensis 
Dr. Robert Faust of the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, 
US DA, requested NIH review of a research proposal involving 
reccmb inant CNA research with Bacillus popilliae and Bacillus 
thuringiensis . 
Dr. Faust proposes to construct hybrid plasmids from B. thuringiensis 
chromosomal DNA and its indigenous plasnid, and propagate them in 
B. popilliae . Transformed strains will be identified by antibiotic 
resistance or added fermentation ability. 
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