to see the international implications of different national rules and guidelines. Scientific research capabilities are no longer confined within national barriers. The international diversification of our large commercial firms, particularly the drug firms, has eliminated such limitations if indeed they ever existed. We need to evaluate the information being made available from the debates in this country and abroad and determine the full implications of any of our decisions before we enact legislation in this area. Fortunately, these debates on genetic manipulation are occurring in the formative stages of public policy. We have a unique opportunity to make sound decisions if we can muster the attention to detail required to sort out the facts from the conjecture. The House Science and Technology Committee, Subcommittee on Science, Research, and Technology has already devoted a series of hearings to the science policy implications of this issue, and the record of these hearings will soon be available for your study. I believe that the DNA recombinant molecule research issue has many implications for science policy which extend beyond the immediate task of regulating a specific type of genetic manipulation. I urge the Members to become familiar with this issue before we make a decision on any legislation which may come before us. The House Science and Technology Committee has had prepared an informative background report for the Members which can be obtained by contacting the committee for copies-Genetic Engineering, Human Genetics, and Cell Biology. Evolution of Technological Issues. DNA Recombinant Molecule Research [Supplemental Report II] December 1976. The Congressional Research Service has prepared an issue brief which is available on this topic and which they can provide on request. Their issue brief provides current information on the status of legislative actions being considered in the Congress and cites other sources of information. I offer the services of my office to any Member who desires additional information and I assure you that this issue will have my own continuing attention. This is an issue of worldwide interest in which once again the actions of the United States are the center of attention and will have a farreaching impact on world decisions. III-2 Dear Secretary of State, I have pleasure in submitting the report of the Working Party that you appointed in August 1975 to follow up the recommendations of the Ashby Report on the Experimental Manipulation of the Genetic Composition of Micro-Organisms and, in particular, to draft a code of practice and to make recommendations on the establishment of a central advisory service. We have consulted many of the individuals and organisations likely to be concerned with the techniques of genetic manipulation and we believe that there is a pressing need for the implementation of a system of advice and control for experiments in this field, in order that valuable work may proceed both rapidly and safely. We trust therefore that you will agree to publish this report and that you will give consideration to our recommendation that the central advisory service that we propose should be set up as quickly as possible. Yours sincerely, June 1976. IV-2 PROFESSOR SIR ROBERT WIlliams Professor Sir Robert Williams MD, S. Brenner, Esq., MB, DPhil, FRS Director, Public Health Laboratory MRC Laboratory of Molecular J. B. Brooksby, Esq., CBE, DSc, PhD, Director, Animal Virus Research Professor J. P. Duguid, MD, BSc, R. J. C. Harris, Esq., PhD, FRIC, Institute, Pirbright, Surrey Department of Bacteriology, Director, Microbiological Research Professor D. A. Hopwood, DSc, MA, Department of Genetics, John Innes PhD, FIBiol W. House, Esq., MIBiol Institute, Norwich Manager of Laboratories, Imperial R. Owen, Esq., MB, ChB, DIH, DMJ, Deputy Director of Medical Services, LRIC D. A. J. Tyrrell, Esq., MD, FRCP, Health and Safety Executive MRC Clinical Research Centre, Professor P. M. B. Walker, CBE, BA, Director, MRC Mammalian Genome PhD, FRSE Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Edinburgh |