2 
These guidelines replace the guidelines issued in 1975 in the 
Summary Statement of the Asilomar Conference on Recombinant DNA Molecules . 
The experiments voluntarily deferred under the Asilomar guidelines 
are still prohibited by the NIH guidelines. The Asilomar guidelines 
in many instances permitted certain experiments to proceed under less 
strict conditions than do the NIH guidelines. The latter define much 
more explicitly the physical and biological containment conditions 
designed to protect workers and the environment, while permitting this 
important line of work to proceed. 
The NIH guidelines contain many details concerning safety practices and 
define the responsibilities of investigators and institutions where the 
research is to be conducted. Finally, a structure is established for 
implementation by NIH staff and advisory committees. 
Thus, these guidelines are being released prior to the completion of 
the environmental impact assessment, because they will provide still 
greater protection for the public and the environment than the current 
Asilomar guidelines might afford. The NIH guidelines will be in effect 
while the environmental impact assessment is under way. 
As most of you know, approximately two years ago, scientists engaged in 
recombinant DNA research voluntarily called for a moratorium of certain 
experiments pending an assessment of potential hazards of this research 
and the development of appropriate guidelines. In response, the National 
Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation supported a 
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