8 
Dr. Fedoroff suggested the motion should indicate the data do not demon- 
strate the existence of kanamycin resistance in plants and approval is 
not based on these data. Dr . Landy agreed the data do not demonstrate 
kanamycin resistance but felt this should not be part of the motion. 
Dr. Harris called the question. By a vote of fourteen in favor, none 
opposed, and no abstentions, the RAC called the vote on the motion. 
The motion to recommend approval of the experiments as proposed passed by 
a vote of ten in favor, one opposed , and three abstentions. 
Dr. McGarrity requested that RAC be provided with current information on 
how recombinant DNA pertains to agriculture. Dr. Fedoroff added that 9ome 
basic plant biology might appropriately be included in this report. 
Dr. Scandal ios asked if the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a 
committee which might serve as an information source. Dr. Tblin said that 
while the USDA has a ccmmittee, that committee could not serve as a general 
source of information. It has, however, provided information to the NIH on 
plant biology issues and could assist any RAC working group on agriculture. 
Dr. Brill said to compile relevant background data on botany and recombinant 
DMA could be a huge undertaking. He suggested that referencing some good 
modem botany books might be sufficient. 
Dr. McKinney supported the concept that proposals involving the bioengi- 
neering of plants be evaluated in their own reference frame. He said the 
current NIH Guidelines were framed with reference to human health. As an 
example, he noted that the proposals involving applications of bioengineering 
to plants refer to absence of "risk to health." He questioned whose health 
this phrase referred to, the environment's, the plants', or human Markers'. 
Dr. Brill suggested that a working group be appointed to evaluate the Guide- 
lines with respect to plants and agriculture. Dr. McGarrity said that although 
he found the concept of an agriculture working group reasonable, he wished 
to obtain some basic education on this subject as quickly as possible. 
V. CLASSIFICATION OF MICROORGANISMS ON THE BASIS OF HAZARD 
Dr. Holmes asked Dr. Ehimett Barkley, chairman of the Vorking Group on 
Classification of Microorganisms, to comment on the general strategies the 
working group intends to follow in revising and updating Appendix B, Classi- 
fication of Microorganisms on the Basis of Hazard , of the Guidelines. 
Dr. Barkley said the penultimate draft of the CDC/NIH "Proposed Biosafety 
Guidelines for Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories" is due to 
appear in November. He said this draft will eliminate references to oppor- 
tunistic pathogens and focus instead on those agents (1) having a high 
potential for causing infection, or (2) where the infection, wsre it to 
occur, would have grave results, or (3) with a history of laboratory asso- 
ciated disease. He said the working group would, as soon as the document 
T14] 
