18 
Dr. Fedoroff said the modification of crop plants through use of the recombinant 
CNA technique is comparable to introducing new lines developed through standard 
agricultural breeding techniques. Dr. Gottesman suggested breeders should at 
the workshop present information about the effect of introducing new lines 
developed through standard breeding techniques. 
Dr. Scandalios said he would like to see a presentation on the effect of the 
introduction of soybeans to the U.S. He felt this discussion would offer 
insight on the ecological effects of the introduction of cultivated crcp plants. 
Dr. Scandalios thought the question of what effect a one gene modification might 
have on higher plants could be addressed by examining the history of the use of 
the male sterile characteristic in com. Dr. Fedoroff said a blight pathogen 
became epidemic on com possessing the male sterile trait. She thought this 
type of event was one of the "worst case scenarios" for higher plants, however, 
this development was due to the agronanic practice of monoculture. Dr. Lacy 
said agricultural practices have a great influence on agricultural ecology. He 
said monoculture, \shich is economically effective, affects the types of pathogens 
which develop and the ecology as a whole. Dr. Pirone said monoculture of male 
sterile com resulted in selection frcm the natural pathogen population of a 
variant highly virulent for corn with that characteristic. He said this type 
of occurrence is a fact of life in agriculture and keeps the plant breeders 
occupied. He did not think plants modified by recombinant DNA technology would 
present problems different frcm those already present in agriculture. He said 
he would ask the workshop to address the question, "Hew would genetically 
engineered plants differ frcm other plants?" 
Dr. Pirone felt the characteristics of plants developed by standard breeding 
techniques were far less predictable than those developed using reccmbinant 
DNA techniques. 
Dr. Sharpies said the reccmbinant ENA technique could introduce characteristics 
into plants which might not otherwise acquire them. She wondered if events 
such as transfer of the characteristic to other organisms, perhaps by the 
transfer of the reccmbinant vector, would be a concern. 
Dr. Scandalios suggested workshop speakers might present information on the 
characteristics and behavior of plants modified using standard breeding 
techniques; individuals having ecological concerns should also participate in 
order to fully examine the issues. Dr. Gottesman agreed and said the workshop 
could contrast the questions posed by Dr. Sharpies with the experience of 
individuals associated with traditional plant breeding. She thought the pro- 
posed workshop should be structured as the Pasadena workshop was structured, 
i.e. , the limits of concern should be defined. She did not think papers and 
formal presentations were desirable, rather discussion and exchange should be 
facilitated. 
Dr. Gottesman felt the workshop should attempt to ccme up with some calculations. 
She said this had been done at the Pasadena workshop and proved very useful and 
helpful . 
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