---
title: "Asilomar Conference on Recombinant DNA"
chunk: 3/3
source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asilomar_Conference_on_Recombinant_DNA"
category: "reference"
tags: "science, encyclopedia"
date_saved: "2026-05-05T04:24:43.330016+00:00"
instance: "kb-cron"
---

=== Science and the general public ===
The participants of the Asilomar Conference also endeavored to bring science into the domain of the general public, with a possible motivation being the Watergate scandal. That scandal resulted from a bungled break-in at the Watergate hotel in Washington, D.C., which served as the Democratic National Committee headquarters in 1972. Two years after the burglary, taped evidence was discovered that indicated that U.S. President Nixon had discussed a cover-up a week after it. Three days following the release of the tape, Nixon resigned from his presidential office. This event focused the nation's attention on the problem of government secrecy fostering illegal and immoral behavior and it has been suggested by the political scientist Ira H. Carmen that this motivated the scientists at the Asilomar Conference to bring science into the public eye to ensure that they would not be accused of a cover-up. Additionally, according to Dr. Berg and Dr. Singer, by being forthright, scientists avoided restrictive legislation due to the development of a consensus on how they were to conduct their research.
Bringing science into the public eye also coincided with the rapid rate at which recombinant DNA technology entered the industrial world. Because of the practical applications of the technology, funding for research using it started coming more from the private sector and less from the public sector. In addition, many molecular biologists who once confined themselves to academia, developed ties with private industry as equity owners, corporate executives and consultants. This led to the creation of a biotechnology industry, although during this time, public debates occur over the hazards of recombinant DNA. These debates were eventually won over by scientists who stated that the hazards were exaggerated and that the research could be conducted safely. Such was seen in the Ascot report, found in the U.S. Federal Register in March 1978. This report emphasized that the hazards of recombinant DNA to the general community were small to the point that they were of no practical consequence to the general public. For this reason, along with high economic pressures for industrial development and a more supportive political environment that existed after 1979, research and industry based on recombinant DNA continued to expand.

== Significance of the conference ==
Years after the conference, people ascribed a large amount of significance to it. According to Paul Berg and Maxine Singer in 1995, the conference marked the beginning of an exceptional era for both science and the public discussion of science policy. The guidelines devised by the conference enabled scientists to conduct experiments with recombinant DNA technology, which by 1995 dominated biological research. This research, in turn, increased knowledge about fundamental life processes, such as the cell cycle. Additionally, the conference along with public debates on recombinant DNA, increased public interest in biomedical research and molecular genetics. For this reason, by 1995, genetics and its vocabulary had become a part of the daily press and television news. This, in turn, stimulated knowledgeable public discussion about some of the social, political and environmental issues that emerged from genetic medicine and the use of genetically modified plants in agriculture. Another significant outcome of the conference was the precedent it set about how to respond to changes in scientific knowledge. According to the conference, the proper response to new scientific knowledge was to develop guidelines that governed how to regulate it.

== See also ==
Genetically modified organism
History of biotechnology

== Notes and references ==

== External links ==
An Asilomar Moment Archived 10 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine
Original Asilomar Genetics Guidelines
“Asilomar Conference.” Provides another summary about the Asilomar Conference.
The Basics of Recombinant DNA Provides an introduction to the science behind recombinant DNA.
The Recombinant DNA Debate Archived 31 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine Provides more details about the history of the debate surrounding the use of recombinant DNA technology.
“Paul Berg: The 1980 Nobel Prize in Chemistry – Autobiography.” Provides an autobiography about Paul Berg.
Science History Institute: The story of the 1975 Asilomar Conference on Recombinant DNA