17 
Dr. McGarrity called the working group's attention to a letter (Attachment IV) 
frcm Representative Albert Gore (D-Tenn) to Dr. Robert P. Williams, the 
President of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM). In his letter. 
Representative Gore requested that ASM convene a national symposium to examine 
scientific issues involved in releasing genetically modified organisms into 
the envircment. Mr. Gore wrote: 
"Generally, the purpose of the conference would be to help identify the 
scientific issues of relevance and to stimulate debate in the appropriate 
scientific disciplines. More specifically, the conference should: 
"1) attempt to define the range of impacts of deliberately released 
organisms ; 
"2) differentiate, if possible, between effects of engineered organisms 
returned to their cwn locations and translocated organisms, whether 
engineered or not; and 
"3) discuss the usefulness of existing methodology for estimating the 
above effects in terms of precision and accuracy. 
ii 
"Ideally, the conference will result in the publication of a collection of 
papers by and for scientists and a summary for a lay audience. The final 
document would also contain an overview of methods of producing genetically 
engineered organisms, in terms of interactions with ecosystems, since one 
of the more perplexing problems is setting limits on the problem area." 
Dr. Gartland said he had received a copy of Representative Gore's letter on 
May 30, 1984, and had no chance to investigate the question before the working 
group meeting. He asked if ASM is likely to sponsor a conference dealing with 
deliberate release of plants. 
Dr. Tolln said ASM currently is heavily oriented tcwards medical microbiology. 
Dr. Clowes said ASM supports conferences through sales of volumes of the pro- 
ceedings. He wondered if there is currently enough information available to 
produce a volume. Dr. Gottesman thought most available data are in the form 
of case studies; those studies could be included in a volume whether they are 
relevant or not to pertinent questions. She felt ASM should be contacted to 
determine whether ASM is planning a conference and whether the subject matter 
of the proposed ASM conference would overlap with the subject matter of the 
proposed NIH-USDA workshop. 
Dr. Tolin asked the working group to offer suggestions about the type of 
information which should be discussed or the questions they would like to 
see addressed at the preposed NIH-USDA workshop. 
Dr. Sharpies said slight genetic changes can alter significantly the inpact 
of an organism on the environment. She pointed to the single gene changes 
which occur in pesticide and antibiotic resistance. She felt these types of 
questions should be considered. 
[ 441 ] 
