11 
Dr. Maas asked if INA - strains could be constructed without reccmbinant 
Df& techniques. Dr . Brill said these types of experiments are currently 
being performed but the characteristics of the organisms are more diffi- 
cult to predict. He said other mutations are introduced into the organisms 
when classical genetic techniques are used; these other mutations might 
affect strain competitiveness. 
Dr. Landy asked if the investigators might wish in the future to generate 
strains that are more competitive than the wild type strain. Dr. Brill 
replied that it is very difficult to create a strain which has a competitive 
edge over the wild type parent strain. 
Dr. Martin asked if it was customary to field test the organisms 
in several different locations and if it is wise to grant permission to 
release the organisms at six different sites simultaneously. Dr. Brill 
replied that it is necessary to test the organisms on several plant types 
in several locations in a variety of field conditions. 
Dr. Nightingale asked how many trials would be attempted and if there 
are any time limits. Dr. Bems said the motion does not limit the number 
of attempts or the period during which these experiments may be performed. 
Dr. Nightingale asked what "isolated" means in the context of an agricultural 
field testing area. Dr. Brill said that if the investigators were testing 
the effect of the organisms on walnuts, the field test would not be conducted 
in an area close to a commercial walnut grove. 
Dr. Rems asked if ice formation per se is always deleterious bo plants. 
Dr. Landy asked if EL syringae or EL herbicola could at seme temperatures 
actually be protecting the plant from freezing. Dr. Wensink noted that 
these organisms are found throughout the atmosphere and in clouds. He 
wondered about the role these organisms might play in precipitation. 
Dr. Landy asked if language indicating that similar field tests are cur- 
rently being performed without using recombinant ENA techniques might 
appropriately be added to the motion. Dr. Brill, the originator of the 
motion, agreed. 
Dr. Fedoroff called the question. By a vote of fourteen in favor, none 
opposed , and no abstentions, the RAC agreed to vote on the motion to approve 
the proposed field tests with a preamble indicating that similar field tests 
are being performed without use of recombinant DNA technology. By a vote of 
seven in favor, five opposed, and two abstentions, the RAC approved the motion. 
VII. PROPOSED REVISION OF APPENDIX F 
Dr. Bems introduced Dr. Susan Oottesman, an ad hoc RAC consultant, to begin 
discussion of the proposal to revise Section F-l, Appendix F. Dr. Gottesman 
said Appendix F would be modified to indicate that subject experiments 
are not "prohibited" but rather fall under Section III-A of the Guidelines. 
Section III-A requires that the experiments receive RAC review and NIH and 
IBC approval before initiation. Ihe relevant sentence in Appendix F reads: 
r 171 
