Introduction 
The Recombinant DNA Technical Bulletin is a 
publication of the Office of Recombinant DNA 
activities, National Institute of General Medical 
Sciences. The Bulletin will attempt both to link 
investigators involved in recombinant DNA 
research in the U.S. and abroad with the advisory 
groups and organizations active in this area and to 
provide prompt notification of certified-host vector 
systems to a broad community. It will be senttothe 
chairmen of all institutional biosafety committees 
registered with ORDA, to all principal investigators 
of NIH grants and contracts involving recombinant 
DNA, to the chairmen of all genetic manipulation 
advisory committees, and to other individuals and 
groups interestd In recombinant DNA activities. 
In accord with its editorial policy, the Bulletin will 
publish material in the following areas: 
1. Scientific information and reports of recent pro¬ 
gress in such areas as: 
a. ) isolation, purification, and substrate spe¬ 
cificity of restriction endonucleases 
b. ) development of methods for the con¬ 
struction of recombinant DNA molecules 
c. ) development and use of effective and 
safer cloning vehicles and host cells 
d. ) isolation of specific procaryotic and 
eucaryotic genes and expression of such 
molecules in different host cells. 
e. ) determination and reduction of potential 
hazards 
2. A periodically updated listing of host-vector 
systems certified by the NIH. 
News and Comments including: 
a. ) new and revised versions of national 
guidelines as issued or proposed by the Uni¬ 
ted States and other countries 
b. ) analysis of legislation affecting recombi¬ 
nant DNA research 
c. ) reports of scientific meetings 
3. Announcements of: 
a. ) training courses in experimental and 
safety aspects of recombinant DNA 
research 
b. ) the availability of contract proposals 
c. ) future meetings 
d. ) NIH policy issuances concerning 
recombinant DNA research 
e.) technical Information or policy decisions 
communicated by Institutional Biosafety 
Committees 
4. Bibliography of: 
a. ) scientific and technical articles 
b. ) articles on public policy, law, and ethics 
relating to recombinant DNA research, 
Contributions in all the above listed areas are 
welcome, although the Bulletin will continue to 
emphasize its role as a medium for the rapid com¬ 
munication of items of technical and scientific 
interest. The Bulletin will have no requirement of 
annual submission for recipients. 
Scientific articles may be submitted in the form 
of progress notes, abstracts, or summaries of 
unpublished research findings along with tables, 
figures and photographs which clarify the text. 
They may also include discussion and criticism of 
published reports, technical suggestions, notes of 
bibliographic omissions, and reports on negative 
findings. The appearance of such findings in the 
Bulletin does not constitute publication and should 
not be referenced as such in the scientific litera¬ 
ture. Data reported herein should be considered 
as tentative and subject to refinement or change 
prior to publication. Research findings communi¬ 
cated via the Bulletin should be treated as “per¬ 
sonal communications" from fellow investigators, 
and receive credit as such in any situation where 
questions of priority might arise. 
The Bulletin will be published and distributed 
four times a year at regular intervals. The closing 
date for receipt of articles will be the first of Febru¬ 
ary, May, August, and November. Communica¬ 
tions should be addressed to Editor Recombinant 
DNA Technical Bulletin, Office of Recombinant 
DNA Activities, Building 31, room 4A52, National 
Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD. 20205 USA. 
This project is funded by the National Institute of 
General Medical Sciences which, with the excep¬ 
tion of articles solicited by the Editor, assumes no 
responsibility for the content of communications 
exchanged through the Bulletin. 
(ii) 
