- 2 - 
6. Is it correct that non-E. col i organisms are being 
used at present in other nations for recombinant DNA exper- 
iments aimed at the development of new antibiotics, the 
design of plants that can grow without fertilizer, and the 
construction of microbes capable of providing new sources of 
energy from the biomass -- whereas the United States guide- 
lines have prevented similar experiments from being carried 
out in this country? 
7. Is the development of vaccines to fight viruses 
that are responsible for serious medical problems being 
prevented by the current NIH guidelines? Are such experi- 
ments permissible elsewhere? 
8. It has been claimed that recombinant DNA methods 
provide a way of reducing the risk of working with a number 
of medically important, disease-producing microbes. What 
is your view of this claim? If true, can work on such 
diseases be carried out more safely abroad by using recom- 
binant DNA than in the United States by using the disease- 
producing microbes themselves? 
9. To what extent does the NIH review process utilize 
a "case law" approach for upgrading or downgrading the 
initial judgmental appraisals of the level of containment 
required for particular experiments? 
10. Is it correct that the newly implemented NIH 
administrative regulations require. that approval be obtained 
from the Office of Recombinant DNA Activities in order for a 
scientist to carry out minor modifications of an experiment 
protocol, regardless of the level of risk involved in the 
experiment? How many people in the Office of Recombinant 
DNA Activities are involved in reviewing such requests? 
What are the qualifications and training of these persons? 
What is the "turn-around" time for decisions of this type 
to be made (range and average)? Is it true that some 
research is being brought to a halt because the awarding 
of scientifically approved grants is being delayed by the 
NIH by the current administrative process? 
11. What would be the effects of legislation that 
extends the scope of this administrative process to all 
research in this country? How many individuals would be 
required for reviewing and approving initial Memoranda of 
Understanding and Agreement and any subsequent modifications 
in protocols? 
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