7 
Corraronwealth University. Dr. Macrina requested that Streptococcus mu tans 
be included in Sublist F of Appendix A and be deleted from Sublist E of 
Appendix A of the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA 
Molecules where it is currently listed. Dr. Macrina argued that S. mu tans 
should be included in Sublist F for the following reasons: 
(1) A broad host range streptococcal plasmid, pAM 1 (conferring 
erthromycin resistance), is conjugatively transmissible to 
S. mutans. Strains of S^ mu tans inheriting this plasmid are 
able to transmit it via conjugal transfer. 
(2) The report of non-plasmid associated conjugal transfer of 
tetracycline resistance from S^ mutans to other strains of 
S. mutans and to faecalis support the claim of natural 
genetic transfer from S^ mutans to other streptococci. 
(3) A tetracycline resistance determinant from a naturally resistant 
S. mutans clinical isolate shares sequence homology with the 
Tn916 (Tc r ) conjugative transposon originating in S. faecalis . 
(4) Naturally transformable strains of S^_ mutans are readily 
transformed with plasmid or chromosomal DNA from other 
mutans as well as sanguis strains. 
Dr. Gottesman described Appendix A. She said Appendix A is based on the 
idea that if two or more organisms exchange genetic information by a 
mechanism you expect to find in nature, no novel entities will be created 
by using recombinant DNA techniques to combine the DNA of these "exchanger" 
organisms. 
Dr. Gottesman said there are a number of sublists in Appendix A; each 
sublist contains the organisms which have been shewn to exchange genetic 
information by known physiological processes. Dr. Gottesman noted that S. 
mutans is currently included in Sublist E which permits one way transfer 
of Streptococcus mutans or Streptococcus lactis DNA into Streptococcus 
sanguis . If S^ mutans were to be included in Sublist F, S^ mutans could 
be used in two-way transfers of DNA with the organisms, S^ sanguis , 
S. pneumoniae , S. faecalis and S^ pyogenes . She said the data supported 
Dr. Macrina's request to add S. mutans to Sublist F of Appendix A, and she 
moved approval. Dr. Gottesman stated that Sublist E should also be retained 
as currently written since lactis is included in Sublist E but not Sub- 
list F. Drs. Friedman and Clowes supported Dr. Gottesman's motion. The 
motion was unanimously carried by a vote of fourteen in favor, none opposed, 
and no abstentions. 
V. PROPOSED MODIFICATION OF APPENDIX L 
Dr. Tolin of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), a liaison repre- 
sentative to the RAC, introduced the proposal (tabs 1117/IV, 1120) to 
[ 191 ] 
