COGENE 
The Committee on Genetic Experimentation 
(COGENE) was created in 1977 by the General 
Assembly of the International Council of Scientific 
Unions (ICSU). The ICSU is an international non¬ 
governmental scientific organization of 18 auto¬ 
nomous international Scientific Unions and more 
than 60 National Members, i.e, academies of 
science, research councils or similar scientific 
institutions. 
The COGENE is a committee similar to others 
formed by IGSU whenever a task is defined that is 
of major interest to several unions and the pro¬ 
gram is of a long-term nature. COGENE is sup¬ 
ported by seven member unions - Pure and 
Applied Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Bio¬ 
chemistry, Pure and Applied Biophysics, Nutri¬ 
tional Sciences, Pharmacology and the 
Immunological Societies - and includes a number 
of scientists prominent in the field of recombinant 
DNA research, which is currently the major focus 
of interests of COGENE and the reason why the 
Committee came into being. 
Its purposes and objectives have been defined 
as follows: 
COGENE is established to serve as a nongo¬ 
vernmental, interdisciplinary and international 
council of scientists and as a source of advice for 
the benefit of governments, inter-governmental 
agencies, scientific groups, and individuals con¬ 
cerning recombinant DNA activities. 
Among its purposes shall be: 
a) to review, evaluate and make available infor¬ 
mation on the practical and scientific benefits, 
safeguards, containment facilities and othertech- 
nical matters, 
b) to consider environmental, health-related and 
other consequences of any disposal of biological 
agents constructed by recombinant DNA tech¬ 
niques, 
c) to foster opportunities for training and interna¬ 
tional exchange, and 
d) to provide a forum through which interested 
national, regional and other international bodies 
may communicate. 
COGENE shall also consider, if necessary, 
other related activities which may give riseto pub¬ 
lic concern. 
(Additional information concerning COGENE 
can be obtained from Professor W.J. Whelan, 
Department of Biochemistry, University of Miami 
School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33152). 
COGENE Reports 
The following are summaries of three reports emanating from working 
groups of COGENE. The full reports can be obtained from Dr. W.J. Whelan 
(see above). 
Risk Assessment 
A M. Skalka (USA) convenor 
G. Bernardi (France) 
V. Sgaramella (Italy) 
The Working Group has been charged with the 
task of gathering information related to assess¬ 
ment of risks associated with recombinant DNA 
research. The information in this report was 
obtained by observation and participation at a 
number of meetings and hearings, by survey of the 
literature and by direct inquiry to national and 
international organizations, and individual 
scientists. 
Cur analyses indicate that the concerns regard¬ 
ing recombinant DNA research can be summar¬ 
ized as follows: 
1. Crganisms carrying recombinant DNA may 
spread in the natural environment and disrupt 
existing ecological equilibria. 
2. These organisms might produce some toxic or 
noxious substance, or otherwise cause disease. 
3. By exploiting this technology, scientists may be 
crossing some hypothetical barrier to DNA 
exchange between, eukaryotes and prokaryotes 
21 
