45 
pertinent review considerations, but she did not think every question 
has to be asked for every experiment. Dr. Gottesman thought the experiment 
proposed by AGS was a "trivial case" as similar bacteria are present in 
nature in large numbers, and the scale of the AGS release is very small. 
Dr. Pimentel said he did not believe this field test of the organism is 
going to cause environmental effects. However, as an ecologist, he is 
influenced by his knowledge of the problems caused by introductions of 
novel organisms. He said half the pests in the U.S. are introduced organ- 
isms. He reminded the FAC that a minor genetic change can cause seme 
avirulent organisms to become virulent. Dr. Pimentel emphasized that 
introducing a reproducing organism into the environment differs from 
releasing a chemical. He argued that for the sake of credibility if 
testing is going to be done it must be done in a good sound scientific 
manner. 
Dr. Friedman said for the sake of credibility the scientific basis of the 
experiment must also be taken into account. He said the AGS mutant is no 
different from mutants occurring in populations of these organisms in 
nature. Simply because the organism is created by recombinant DNA technol- 
ogy does not magically make it any different from naturally occurring 
mutants. 
Dr. Pirone said he did not regard the AGS mutant any differently than he 
regarded naturally occurring mutants. However, the AGS strain is a dele- 
tion mutant and as the genes regulating pathogenicity are not known, it is 
not knewn whether the deletion might affect the expression of pathogenicity. 
Ite said he did not wish to see a whole range of other characteristics tested; 
but given that seme Pseudomonas syringae isolates are pathogenic, it is 
prudent to test for pathogenicity. Dr. Pirone thought a prudent individual 
would test mutants created by whatever means for pathogenicity before 
field testing. 
Dr. Pimentel said he supported Dr. Pirone’ s comments. He reiterated that 
he did not see a problem with field testing the AGS mutant, but he said 
AGS provided no data to support the phrase "no observable effects" used in 
describing the results of tests performed with chemically induced mutants. 
Walking through test plots and seeing no observable effects is not sufficient. 
Dr. Pimentel said anyone walking into his test plots at Cornell University 
where experiments are being performed with pesticides and toxic chemicals 
will observe no effects just by eyeing the plots. However, if the insec±s, 
arthropods, microbes, etc., are examined, tremendous differences are noted. 
Dr. Pimentel reiterated his statement that any environmental testing should 
be performed in a sound manner. 
Dr. McKinney said the AGS proposal offers an opportunity to acquire some 
important data with little risk. While it may not be possible or feasible 
to do every test Dr. Pimentel suggests, RAC should take advantage of every 
opportunity to acquire such environmental information. 
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