POST- DISPATCH 
St. Louis, Mo., 6/24/76 
Scientists Back Rules 
For Genetic Research 
3> JF*'F GELLES 
' . 'he Rosl-Dlspaicb Staff 
Ji. s issued yesterday by the 
N; mi i nstitutes of Health to control 
, F ( " •!' -ally hazardous genetic experi- 
. are a useful tool for scientists and 
* ‘ not expected to interfere needlessly 
• with research, medical researchers here 
yjy. 
Interviews with members of the facul- 
ties of St. Louis's two medical schools 
indicate that researchers considering 
such experiments welcome the guide- 
lines as a means of preventing frivolous 
or poorly planned projects that could 
conceivably have catastrophic conse- 
quences. 
In question are experiments that are 
among the most revolutionary — and 
medically useful — in the field of genetic 
research. They involve the combining of 
genetic material from different types of f 
organisms — in a sense, the creation of 
forms of life that did not previously 
exist. 
Scientists have suggested that such 
research might revolutionize agricul- 
ture, the production of drugs and the 
understanding of many baffling dis- 
eases. Some envision using genetically 
altered bacteria to produce valuable 
proteins and hormones, such as insulin 
or the substance that causes blood to 
clot. 
Critics of the research say that it 
could conceivably lead to the creation of 
disease organisms not found in nature 
and difficult or impossible to control. 
They fear the creation of drug-resistant 
strains of diseases, or strains of com- 
mon bacteria producing deadly toxins. 
The projects in question are of a type 
known as "recombinant DNA" experi- 
ments. They involve the combining of 
genetic materials from different species 
of life. 
DNA is the abbreviation for deoxyri- 
bonucleic acid, a substance that contains 
the information that determines the. 
hereditary characteristics of an organ- 
ism. The bits of information within the 
DNA iteelf are known as "genes." 
Although the mechanism is not com- 
pletely understood, each gene contains 
what is basically a coded instruction for 
the production of a certain type of- 
protein molecule. Proteins are essential 
components of any living organism. 
Genes are the units of heredity. A 
tadpole becomes a frog because of 
information contained in its genes. Blue 
eyes are blue because of a particular 
gene. The fertilized egg that is the start 
of a human being becomes what it is, in 
part at least, because of a combination 
of perhaps 1,000,000 genes dictating its 
development and traits. 
Recombinant DNA experiments in- 
volve the transplanting of genes— pieces 
of DNA— into different organisms. Of 
particular concern, however, are experi- 
■ FROM PAGE ONE 
ments in which the genes of one type of 
bacteria or a larger organism are 
combined with another type of bacteria. 
Through this process, genes of plants, 
animals or even man could be grown In 
bacteria. And a living organism, such as 
a bacterium, could be given characteris- 
tics that it never had in its natural form. 
Scientists at the Washington Universi- 
ty and St. Louis University schools of 
medicine say that only a few research- 
ers here will be directly affected by the 
guidelines, which were announced yes- 
terday by Dr. Donald S. Fredrickson, 
director of the National Institutes of 
Health. 
■^he guidelines supplant a less formal 
moratorium established about two years 
ago by scientists involved in such work, 
and are more stringent than recommen- 
dations circulated earlier this year by 
the National Institutes. 
Prohibited under the guidelines are 
combining genes from certain dangerous 
disease organisms into others; transfer- 
ring drug-resistant traits to micro-or- 
ganisms that could compromise the use 
of a drug to control disease, and forming 
recombinants from genes that can pro- 
duce potent poisons. 
For other experiments, graded safety 
precautions are described in detail, 
including descriptions of the kinds of 
organisms that can be used and the 
types of laboratories where the work 
may be done. 
The studies believed to be the most 
hazardous may, under the guidelines, be 
done only in high security laboratories 
where the risk of research material 
escaping into the environment can be 
minimized. 
Such a laboratory is in operation at St. 
Louis University’s Institute for Molecu- 
lar Virology. The laboratory was built 
about two years ago through a $1,500,000 
gram from the National Cancer Insti- 
tute,. says its director, Maurice Green. It 
contains complete filtering systems, ar- 
tificially lowered air pressure, and steri- 
lization equipment for supplies. 
In a telephone interview yesterday, 
Green said that his work in the laborato- 
ry was directed toward determining the 
mechanism by which genes from certain 
viruses cause cells in smalll animals to 
become cancerous. 
Green said the dangers addressed by 
the National Institues' guidelines were 
not present in his lab, because is not 
transplanting the viral genes into bac- 
teria. but into cells from animals in- 
stead. 
Green said he welcomed the guide- 
lines. which he says will cautfon re- 
the possibility that dangerous forms of 
common bacteria could escape from 
laboratories and contaminate the envi- 
ronment. 
"Whether the possibility is real or not. 
nobody knows." Green said. "Nobody 
wants to take the chance." 
Robert G Roeder, a professor of 
biological chemistry at the Washington 
University School of Medicine, said in an 
interview yesterday that the physical 
safeguards in laboratories where contro- 
versial genetic research is taking place 
are not sufficient to prevent contamina- 
tion. 
"There's a legitimate worry," Roeder 
said, because researchers commonly 
produce genes in a type of bacteria 
(escherici coli) "that is found in’ the 
human gut." 
Roeder is experimenting with the 
production of recombinant DNA from 
the genes df amphibious animals. The 
research is considered harmless, he 
says, but he shares his colleague’s 
concern over the dangers of the more 
controversial forms of genetic research. 
Both Roeder and Green called for 
more widespread use of "biological 
safeguards," which do not rely on 
physically isolating the research materi- 
al from the outside environment. For 
example, strains of bacteria that can 
only live under unusual conditions, such 
as high temperatures, can be used in the 
experiments. 
Other scientists here said that caution 
should be a watchword. 
"Nobody really wants to say we 
shouldn’t do these experiments," said 
Sondra Schlessinger, a professor of 
microbiology at the Washington Univer- 
sity School of Medicine "Some are 
saying, though, that we should go more 
slowly." 
"There's a growing awareness among 
scientists that there are hazards in the 
things they do," said Milton J. Schlessin- 
ger, her husband, who is also a profes- 
sor of microbiology at the university. 
In a letter published in the June 4 
issue of Science magazine, the publica- 
tion of the American Academy for the 
Advancement of Science, Erwin Char- 
gaff of Columbia University wrote: 
"There arises a general problem of 
the greatest significance, namely the 
awesome irreversibility of what is being 
contemplated. You can stop splitting the 
atom, you can stop visiting the moon, 
you can stop using aerosols, you can 
even decide not to kill entire populations 
by the use of a tow bombs, but you 
cannot recall a new form of Hfe ” 
MESSENGER AND INQUIRER 
Owensboro, Ky. , 6/24/76 
( A 
in the 
nation 
Vs 7 
Genetic research 
precautions told 
WASHINGTON ( APi - The Na- 
tional Institme&.of Health iNIHi 
took steps Wednesday to prevent 
potential health hazards as- 
sociated with a controversial kind 
of genetic research 
Dr Donald S. Fredrickson said 
the NIH guidelines issued for "re- 
combinant DNA" studies would 
help limit dangers of creating un- 
known diseases associated with 
the potentially beneficial re- 
search 
Fredrickson said the "generally 
conservative guidelines" would 
ban some potentially dangerous 
work and set up more rigid stan- 
dards than presently used to re- 
duce the risk of accidents that 
could release dangerous organ- 
isms into the environment 
DNA — deoxyribonucleic acid — 
is the chemical forming genes, the 
basic units of heredity Recombin- 
ant DNA molecules result from re- 
combining in a test tube DNA from 
different species of life. 
Bacteria modified with recom- 
binant DNA reproduce and have 
offspring with characteristics of 
the other species 
Supporters say the research has 
vast potential for scientific break- 
throughs. For example, they see 
turning bacteria into little fac- 
tories producing valuable proteins 
and hormones, such as insulin and 
blood clotting factor 
Critics say the research can 
create super disease organisms 
not found in nature that are im- 
mune to all know defenses and 
treatments. 
The new guidelines ban research 
combining genes from certain 
risky disease organisms into 
others and prohibit transferring 
drug-resistent traits to microor- 
ganisms that could compromise 
use of a drug in controling disease 
The guidelines go into great de- 
tail describing four classes of 
laboratories in which the research 
can be done 
Depending upon the genetic 
material used and the experimen- 
tal objectives, the laboratories can 
range from ones similar to com- 
mon college labs to others with 
elaborate systems of airlocks and 
filters resemling space capsules 
Fredrickson said the guidelines 
are effective immediately at NIH 
laboratories and those of its con- 
tractors and grantees NIH cur- 
rently supports about $4 million 
worth of this research, he added 
The guidelines are not mandat- 
ory for research outside NIH. but 
Fredirkson said it is hoped all 
doing this type of work, including 
private industry, will comply vol- 
untarily. 
International health and scien- 
tific organizations have been 
awaiting the guidelines, said NIH 
officials, and several indicate they 
plan to adopt them in other coun- 
tries. 
The guidelines replace informal 
recommendations drawn up last- 
year by an international group of 
scientists on how to conduct the 
research and on what work should 
not take place Fredrickson said 
most scientists welcomed the 
guidelines. 
"The greatest fear of the scien- 
tific community is that there is tre- 
mendous potential power in this 
technique and they want to be very 
conservative about using U," he 
said. 
COURIER 
Evansville, Ind. , 6/24/76 
NJH chief sees new rules 
cutting genetic probe risk 
WASHINGTON (AP) While the real 
potential health hazard of. a controversal 
kind of genetic research cannot be defined 
with present knowledge, the director of the 
National Institutes of Health says compli- 
ance with new guidelines should greatly • 
cut the risks. 
Dr DonaldS. Fredrickson said the NIH 
guidelines issued Wednesday for recpmbi- 
nant DNA research "should help those in- 
volved in the debate over this to clarify 
their arguments." 
Fredrickson said the "generally con- . 
servative guidelines" would ban some po- 
tentially dangerous work and set up more 
rigid standards than presently usdd.to re- 
duce the risk of accidents that could re- 
lease dangerous organisms into thd envi- 
ronment. 
DNA deoxyribonucleic acid is the 
chemical forming genes, the basic units of 
heredity. 
Bacteria modified with recombinant 
DNA reproduce and have offspring with 
characteristics of the other species 
Supporters say the research has. vast 
potential for scientific breakthroughs. For 
example, they see turning bacteria into 
little factories producing valuable proteins 
and hormones, such as insulin and blood' 
clotting factor 
. Critics say the research can create 
super disease organisms not found in- na- 
ture that are immune to all known defenses 
and treatments. • 
The new guidelines ban research com- 
bining genes from certain risky (fiseasf* 
organisms into others'and prohibit 
transferring drug-resistent traits to micro- 
organisms that could compromise use of a 
drug in controlling disease 
Guidelines more detailed 
The guidelines go into great detdil de- 
scribing four classes of laboratories In 
which the research can be done 
Depending upon th£ genetic materjal 
used and the experimental objectives, the 
laboratories can range from ones similar 
tocommon college labs toothers with eJ.ah 
orate systems qf airlocks and filters 
resembling space capsules 
Fredrickson said the guidelines are ef- 
fective immediately at NIH laboratories 
and those of its contractors and grantees 
NIH currently supports about W million 
worth of this research, he added 
The guidelines are not mandatory for 
research outside NIH. but’Frednkson said 
it is hoped all doing this type of .work 
including private .industry, will comply 
voluntarily. . 
International health and scientific or- 
ganizations have been awaiting the guide? 
lines, said NIH officials, and several jndi' 
cdte they plan to adopt -them in other 
countries 
The guidelines replace informal rec- 
ommendations drawn up last year by an 
international group of scientists on how to 
conduct the research and on what work 
should not take place •Fnedncksan said 
most scientists welcomed the guidelines 
"The greatest fear of the scientific 
community is that there ts treme^dops 
potential power in thjs technique and they 
want to be very conservative about \ising 
it," he said 
HERALD- REPUBLIC 
Yakima, Wash., 6/24/76 
Hazards of 
genetic 
research 
watched 
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