December 4, 1974
Dear Dan:
You may remember that one of the goals of the Asilomar Conference is to come up with a position paper on the preparation and use of recombinant DNA molecules. I am writing to request a one- or two-page summary of your opinion concerning the question, "Should the existing moratorium be extended, modified, or eliminated?" Your reasons, suggestions, etc. will be very helpful to the organizing committee. This is especially important for our panel where there appears to be a diversity of opinions on the matter. I am also enclosing for your information copies of the NIH standards for use of oncogenic viruses in NCI laboratories and general guidelines for SVCP contractors. Please try to send your summaries before January 15.
Thank you and best regards.
Sincerely yours,
Aaron J. Shatkin
Dept. of Cell Biology
[HANDWRITTEN: Hello Dan-- Sorry about the above. More interesting is our results with the fragments that you sent. Methyl-3H-labeled cytoplasmic and nuclear RNA hybridized to each of three fragments, and the RNase-resistant percentages were similar (~70 percent-85 percent in each case). Regards Aaron.]