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Yale University 
New Haven, Connecticut 06520 
April 9, 1976 
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY 
Kline Biology T ower 
Dr. Ruth L. Kirschstein 
National Institutes of Health 
Behavioral Sciences 
Laboratory of Psychology 
Bldg. 29, Room 516 
Bethesda, Maryland 20014 
Dear Dr. Kirschstein: 
The Mammalian Mutant Cell Lines Committee at its recent meeting 
of 5-6 April, 1976 discussed the desirability of establishing a 
central facility for the storage and distribution of mammalian DNA 
sequences. The Committee fully endorses the recommendation which is 
described in the following paragraphs. 
Over the last few years the value of having a central facility for 
storing and distibuting characterized human mutant cell cultures has become 
increasingly clear. This central facility has permitted the preservation of 
characterized cell samples for rare genetic disorders and has allowed them 
to be supplied to investigators throughout the nation. It is currently widely 
used. 
The recently devised techniques of cloning DNA put within range the 
isolation of clones of DNA covering substantial parts of normal and mutant 
human mammalian genome . 
We suggest that a valuable national asset would be provided if a facility 
comparable to the cell culture facility were set up for the storage, characteri- 
zation and distribution of human mammalian DNA clones. Such a facility, if 
properly conceived, could serve a much wider function than a mere repository. 
It would act as a catalyst to future investigations by making characterized 
material available to other investigators, by offering specialized facilities 
for training scientists, and by providing a place for them to carry out special 
experiments. A brief list of the functions of such a facility includes: 
1. Storage and preservation of cloned DNA 
2. Characterization 
3. Replication for distribution 
4. Distribution 
5. Opportunities for visiting experimenters 
6 . Training 
7. Data compilation 
8. Primary research 
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