The recent development of recombinant DNA technology has raised
concern that the USSR will acquire recombinant capabilities from the West as well as through its own efforts and use them to the disadvantage of the United States. This paper assesses current Soviet research capabilities, likely trends in the scope and quality of future Soviet research, the importance to the Soviets of the various means through which they can obtain detailed information about advanced Western recombinant research techniques, and the likelihood that the Soviets will derive meaningful benefits from recombinant DNA techniques.