The international meeting was held at the Asilomar Conference Center, 
Pacific Grove, California, in February 1975. The consensus of this meeting 
was that certain experiments should not be done at the present time, but 
that most of the work on construction of recombinant DNA molecules should 
proceed with appropriate physical and biological barriers. The Asilomar 
Conference report also made interim assignments of the potential risks 
associated with different types of experiments. The NIH then assumed 
responsibility for translating the broadly based Asilomar recommendations 
into detailed guidelines for research. 
Dr. Fredrickson reached his decision on the Guidelines after extensive 
scientific and public airing of the issues during the sixteen months which 
have elapsed since the Asilomar Conference. The issues were discussed at public 
meetings of the R.ecombinant DNA Molecule Program Advisory Committee (Recombinant 
Advisory Committee) and the Advisory Committee to the NIH Director. The 
Recombinant Advisory Committee extensively debated three different versions 
of the Guidelines during this period. 
The Advisory Committee to the NIH Director, augmented with consultants 
representing law, ethics, consumer affairs and the environment, was asked to 
advise as to whether the proposed Guidelines balanced responsibility to protect 
the public with the potential benefits through the pursuit of new knowledge. 
The many different points of view expressed at this meeting were taken into 
consideration by the Director in making his decision. Dr. Fredrickson 
emphasized, however, that NIH will continue to consider issues raised by the 
scientific community and the public on this type of research. 
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