ABSTRACT
Concerns over potential hazards in recombinant alterations of viable entities have been expressed by members of the scientific community and the lay public. The history of developing regulations is already long, involved, and often confused by redundant and baseless fears and allegations. A well-conceived publication entitled Genetic Technology : A New Frontier was created by the Office of Technology Assessment (97th Congress) (1). Its purpose, a documentary of informational and statistical presentations of major aspects and their potential impacts, successfully blends scientific principles and descriptive writing. The book is of interest to the technologist and also to readers with limited scientific background. A quote from the conclusion in the report is worth citing:
Thus far no demonstrable harm associated with genetic engineering, and particularly recombinant DNA, has been found. But although demonstrable harm is based on evidence that damage has occurred at one time or another, it does not mean that damage cannot occur.
