Copy of letter to professional societies 
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. EDUCATION. AND WELFARE 
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE 
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 
BETHESDA. MARYLAND 20014 
June 30, 1976 
See attached list of addressees 
Gentlemen : 
Enclosed is a copy of the NIH guidelines on recombinant DNA research 
and the decision paper that accompanies them. 
These guidelines will govern research at laboratories of NIH and at 
those of its grantees and contractors. NIH has also undertaken an 
"environmental impact assessment," in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The purpose of this assessment is 
to review the environmental effects, if any, of research that may be 
conducted under the guidelines. 
The NIH guidelines establish carefully controlled conditions for the 
conduct of experiments involving the production of recombinant DNA 
molecules and their insertion into organisms such as bacteria. These 
guidelines replace the recommendations contained in the 1975 Summary 
Statement of the Asilomar Conference on Recombinant DNA Molecules . 
The latter would have permitted research under less strict conditions. 
Within the month, NIH will publish a report containing the full 
transcript of a public hearing held at NIH on February 9-10, 1976; 
the statements filed by public and scientific witnesses at that hearing; 
and the correspondence addressed to me on this matter. My decision, 
which is based on that record, examines each of the substantive issues 
presented with an explanation of my decision on each issue. These guidelines 
contain a number of revisions based on that analysis. On the basis 
of continuing discussions with other organizations that are conducting, 
monitoring, or supporting this type of research in this country and 
abroad, we believe these guidelines will be adopted by other laboratories 
throughout the United States and that they will provide a basis for 
development of similar guidelines in foreign countries. 
Much of the public commentary directed to me on the proposed guidelines 
focused on the expressed concern that there should be guidelines for 
recombinant DNA research not supported or conducted by NIH. There was 
general agreement that NIH should undertake to disseminate information on 
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