19 
Dr. Gottesman pointed out that traditional breeding technologies can introduce 
genes frcm distant species into plants; for example, mammalian genes cannot be 
introduced into plants through traditional plant breeding but can be introduced 
using reccmbinant DNA techniques. She thought this topic might be worth 
discussing at the NIH-USDA workshop. She thought the conference should also 
address questions such as: How relevant are single gene changes in plants? 
Can gene movement or transfer into the environment occur? If it occurred, 
would this be a serious concern? 
Dr. Arntzen wondered if this meeting should be geared to a particular audience. 
Dr. Miller said NIH workshops were held to help the RAC in its deliberations. 
The conclusions, however, have been used by scientific specialists, by the 
legal profession, by government policy-makers, by the press, and by the public. 
He did not feel the meeting should be geared to any particular audience. 
Dr. Tolin asked if the working group thought the scope of the workshop should 
be limited to plants. The working group agreed that the scope should include 
plants and plant associated microorganisms. Dr. Tolin asked Dr. Betz of the 
EPA Office of Pesticides Programs (OPP) if examples of bio rational pesticide 
use would help facilitate understanding. Dr. Betz agreed that use of microbial 
pest control agents could be discussed in the workshop program. 
Dr. Arntzen suggested that an economist who could describe the impact of genetic 
technologies on agriculture should be invited to participate in the workshop. 
Dr. Fedoroff suggested that an individual with expertise in microbial ecology 
be invited to participate. 
DEVELOPMENT OF GUIDANCE FOR EXPERIMENTS INVOLVING FIELD TESTING OF MICROORGANISMS 
Dr. McGarrity asked the working group to begin discussing develcpment of a guidance 
document for field testing of microorganisms. 
Dr. Fedoroff suggested a microbial ecologist be added to the working group for 
this project. Dr. Vidaver pointed out that many current members of the working 
group have experience with plant pathogens and, thus, with microbial ecology. 
Dr. Gottesman agreed but pointed out that questions persist about the proposal 
to field test ice nucleation bacteria in spite of the fact that the modification 
is minor. She felt the mathematics of these types of procedures should be 
examined in detail to address questions such as: Hew many organisms are needed 
to impinge on an environment? How do numbers affect persistence and the ability 
to grow? How does number modulate the effects? She felt a specialist who could 
provide this type of expertise would be a valuable addition to the working 
group. 
Dr. Gottesman felt RAC needed a document which would elucidate the parameters 
used to distinguish between trivial and non-trivial questions. The document 
should provide flexibility by providing guidance. Dr. Gottesman felt RAC and 
[443] 
