may not yet exist. Dr. Stevenson emphasized that the Subcommittee 
should address what constructs required controls. In his view, 
only certain recombinant DNA molecules require unusual safety 
precautions. Nonetheless, some citizen groups were working to 
completely eliminate the development of transgenic animals. Dr. 
Langston added that the criteria should be the degree to which 
recombinant DNA molecules are infectious, transmissible, or toxic. 
The transgenic mouse or cow would die if shipped according to the 
required procedures, yet they pose no hazards of infection in the 
mail. 
Dr. Atlas focussed the discussion on the transgenic mouse. While 
it is not infectious, one colony of mice has had DNA from the HIV 
virus inserted into all its cells. He asked how such a mouse 
should be shipped. Dr. Langston argued that the shipping 
regulations should depend on the expression of the infectious 
characteristics. In the case of the HIV mouse, it contains 
potentially infectious recombinant DNA molecules, and it might or 
might not become infectious. Dr. Atlas stated that consideration 
of the safety procedures against escape of the HIV mouse is outside 
the purview of the Subcommittee, but that the full RAC will 
consider this problem in the future. Dr. Stevenson believed that 
no one would wish to ship the HIV mouse. Dr. Langston disagreed, 
stating that many researchers wish to ship the HIV mouse right now, 
perhaps even internationally. Dr. Stevenson argued that the 
problem is whether the mouse is infected with the HIV virus, in 
which case shipment would be banned. 
Dr. Langston felt that the problem of the HIV mouse was more 
complex. Dr. McKinney added that the HIV mouse is currently 
contained in a BL4 facility. The virus might be expressed in the 
future. He mentioned that some critics argue that all transgenic 
animal experiments change the host organisms, and raise fears that 
acquired characteristics could spread through populations outside 
the laboratory. For example, in the case of the mouse with an 
added gene coding for growth hormone, public reactions included 
fears that giant mice could "take over." Dr. McVicar agreed that 
public perceptions of these issues were a significant political 
problem. Dr. Stevenson believed that reasonable guidelines and 
regulations for the shipment of contaminated mice can be 
formulated. No insurmountable technical impediment existed that 
would kill, or compromise the integrity of the experimental 
subject. Regulations could treat individual cases by designing 
separate instructions and recommendations for optimal safety and 
shipping requirements. 
Dr. McKinney emphasized that containment guidelines must be written 
for recombinant DNA products and transgenic animals. Three 
vehicles can contain recombinant molecules: cultures, plants, and 
animals. While the RAC must define the containment conditions for 
recombinant DNA molecules, its mandate traditionally covered only 
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