Almost exactly 100 years later, an even more momentous event has occurred. This year for the first time in the history of mankind, an organism modified by recombinant DNA technology has been deliberately released into the environment. This a time for both consideration and reflection-consideration about the long range implications of our actions, and reflection on how we arrived at this point. From primitive times to the present, man has lived in an increasingly technological society. Throughout the history of our civilization, science and technology have been the most significant factors in alleviating the burdens of pr imary existence to make life easier and healthier. As science and technology have become the underpinnings of our modern society, we have come to unders tand them as necessities, not as luxuries. As this has occurred, the relationship of science and technology to society has become more complex. As a consequence, problems have arisen that have not only challenged our capability, but to a greater extent have tested our responsibility. For centuries, it was an impor tant goal either to learn why things happen or how to do things. Today our unders tanding is so extensive and our ability to do things is so diverse, that we must often decide what to do among the many things that could be done. In this regard, science and technology at times become scapegoats in our society for those things we believe are detr imental and destructive. Neither science nor technology is of itself good or bad. If they are used appropriately, the results will be beneficial if used inappropriately, the results will be detrimental. There is a moral responsibility that accompanies the development and application of all knowledge, and that responsibility rests with man himself and his society. The exercise of this responsibility is as im.por tant as our right and f reedom to inquire, gain new knowledge and create something new from it. In turn, this responsibility should not be misconstrued as either temerity or inhibition, instead, it is the reasoned development of a ,, technological conscience ,,. Technology must be mankind 's servant. I t is the product of his creativity and it can be molded, and managed to solve the vast array of problems that confront modern man. Biotechnology offers modern man unbelievable opportunit ies if used responsibly, and perhaps unsuspected dangers if used without proper unders tanding of the implications. Members of the Science Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives had an early interest in the field of biotechnology dating back well over a decade to 197l, when Nobel Laureate James Watson addressed the Committee. His topic was cloning and genetic engineering and his purpose