HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES ON THE RECOMBINANT DNA CONTROVERSY

Publisher Summary This chapter presents historical perspectives on the recombinant DNA controversy. The process of developing guidelines on recombinant DNA was influenced by the realization that a popular, exciting new field was emerging and by the conviction that it should be encouraged to grow. Scientists were eager to get involved in recombinant DNA research and the developers of the guidelines felt that artificial restraints should interfere as little as possible. In the United States, the National Institutes of Health was in the ambiguous position of encouraging and facilitating the growth of research using recombinant DNA techniques while at the same time, it was responsible for establishing and enforcing safety regulations that would restrict it. While all of this was going on, scientists were tooling up to use the new technique and were waiting for the green light that would allow them to proceed as rapidly as possible. The scientists involved believed that there was a need to demonstrate to the public that scientists, on their own, could act responsibly to protect the public. As a result, the process of establishing rules involved a series of compromises aimed at achieving a consensus within that portion of the scientific community affected by the regulations while at the same time providing assurance to the public that they would be protected against possible hazards.