Mr. Rifkin suggested RAC consider an amendment which would restrict human 
gene therapy to somatic cells and state that engineering specific genetic 
traits into the human genn line not be attempted. He then submitted a 
resolution to this effect signed by 70 religious leaders (Attachment III). 
Mr. Mitchell said that as Mr. Rif kin's amendment had not been published in 
the Federal Register for thirty days of public comment, it could not be 
acted upon by RAC. Dr. Gottesraan said the committee was aware of the ethi- 
cal differences between alteration of somatic cells in an individual and 
alteration of the germ line. If the new Section III-B-4 were added to the 
Guidelines, all experiments involving deliberate transfer of recombinant 
DNA into human subjects would come to the RAC for review including ary 
proposing to involve the human germ line. The first proposals to ccme to 
the RAC would undoubtedly involve somatic cells and not germ line cells. 
There was, therefore, no need to act on Mr. Rifkin's proposal today. 
Dr. Gottesman called the question. By a vote of sixteen in favor, none 
opposed, and one abstention, the question was called. 
The RAC accepted Dr. McGarrity's motion to accept the changes in the Guide- 
lines developed by the working group by a vote of fifteen in favor, none 
opposed, and two abstentions. Dr. David Martin's abstention was noted. 
VIII. PROPOSED EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN EXPERIMENTS INVOLVING NCNPATHOGENIC 
STREPTOMYCES 
Dr. Holmes introduced the proposal (tabs 1133/V, 1140, 1144) of Dr. Jack 
Manis of the Upjohn Company that "the Director of NIH and the RAC consider 
exemption from the Guidelines of any recombinant ENA experiments which 
involve only non-pathogenic Streptomyces species and their indigenous 
plasmids and viruses" under Appendix C of the Guidelines. 
Er. Manis also requested that "the Director of the NIH and the RAC consider 
exempting from regulation by the Guidelines any scale-up of recombinant 
Streptomyces cultures which are derived from nonpathogenic strep tony cetes 
and which use as the basic host organisms Streptomyces species which have 
routinely been used in large-scale antibiotic fermentations without medical 
or ecological incident (e.g., S. lincolnensis, S. fradiae, S. erythreus, 
etc.)." 
Dr. Holmes said Et. Manis did not supply a list of the species for which 
the exemption is sought, and the request does not include medical or ecolog- 
ical information on Streptomyces . He said this proposal would, if accepted, 
be the first exemption of a gems or at least of all nonpathogenic members 
of that genus. 
Dr. McGarrity pointed out that certain experiments involving Streptomyces 
are already exempt from the Guidelines since certain Streptomyces species 
aureofaciens , S. rimosus, S^_ coelicolor , S. griseus , S. cyaneus , and 
