| FOR RELEASE JULY 26, 2018 |
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| BY Cary Funk and Meg Hefferon |
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| FOR MEDIA OR OTHER INQUIRIES: |
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| Cary Funk, Director, Science and Society Research |
| Haley Nolan, Communications Assistant |
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| 202.419.4372 |
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| www.pewresearch.org |
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| RECOMMENDED CITATION |
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| Pew Research Center, July 2018, “Public Views of Gene |
| Editing for Babies Depend on How It Would Be Used” |
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| 2 |
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| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
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| About Pew Research Center |
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| Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes |
| and trends shaping America and the world. It does not take policy positions. The Center conducts |
| public opinion polling, demographic research, content analysis and other data-driven social |
| science research. It studies U.S. politics and policy; journalism and media; internet, science and |
| technology; religion and public life; Hispanic trends; global attitudes and trends; and U.S. social |
| and demographic trends. All of the Center’s reports are available at www.pewresearch.org. Pew |
| Research Center is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts, its primary funder. |
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| © Pew Research Center 2018 |
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| www.pewresearch.org |
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| 3 |
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| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
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| Public Views of Gene Editing for Babies Depend on How It |
| Would Be Used |
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| Americans’ views on the |
| appropriateness of changing |
| a baby’s genetic |
| characteristics depend in |
| large part on the intended |
| purpose and on whether or |
| not human embryos would be |
| used in testing these |
| techniques. A majority of |
| Americans support the idea |
| of using gene editing with the |
| goal of delivering direct |
| health benefits for babies, but |
| at the same time, a majority |
| considers the use of such |
| techniques to boost a baby’s |
| intelligence something that |
| takes technology “too far.” |
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| A majority of U.S. adults say changing a baby’s genes |
| to treat a serious congenital disease is appropriate |
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|
| % of U.S. adults who say changing a baby’s genetic characteristics for each of |
| the following reasons is … |
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|
| Note: Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown. |
| Source: Survey conducted April 23-May 6, 2018. |
| “Public Views of Gene Editing for Babies Depend on How It Would Be Used” |
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| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
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| About seven-in-ten Americans (72%) say that changing an unborn baby’s genetic characteristics to |
| treat a serious disease or condition that the baby would have at birth is an appropriate use of |
| medical technology, while 27% say this would be taking technology too far. A somewhat smaller |
| share of Americans say gene editing to reduce a baby’s risk of developing a serious disease or |
| condition over their lifetime is appropriate (60% say this, while 38% say it would be taking |
| medical technology too far). But just 19% of Americans say it would be appropriate to use gene |
| editing to make a baby more intelligent; eight-in-ten (80%) say this would be taking medical |
| technology too far. |
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| These are some of the findings from a new Pew Research Center survey conducted April 23-May 6, |
| 2018, among 2,537 U.S. adults. |
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| www.pewresearch.org |
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| 4 |
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| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
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|
| While public discussions about potentially altering a baby’s genetic makeup have been ongoing for |
| decades, the development of a new gene-splicing technology – known as CRISPR – has accelerated |
| the debate and brought new urgency to better understanding public opinion about gene editing as |
| well as the broader social, ethical and policy implications ahead.1 |
|
|
| Previous Pew Research Center surveys have tracked public opinion about gene editing using |
| different question wording and, in some cases, different polling methodologies. As such, those |
| findings are not directly comparable to this new survey. However, the broad pattern – that public |
| support for gene editing varies with its intended purpose – is consistent with a 2016 study that |
| explored public views about the possibility of using gene editing to “enhance” a baby’s health over |
| the course of their lifetime and a 2014 survey.2 |
|
|
| Regardless of the intended purpose of gene |
| editing, experts acknowledge that further |
| development of these techniques will likely |
| involve testing in human embryos. In August |
| 2017, research scientists in the United States |
| reported the first successful use of gene editing |
| in human embryos to eliminate an inherited |
| condition. When asked to consider the |
| possibility that the development of gene |
| editing would involve testing on human |
| embryos, one third of Americans (33%) say |
| this would be appropriate while about two- |
| thirds (65%) say this would be taking medical |
| technology too far. |
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|
| 65% of Americans say if gene editing |
| relies on embryonic testing, it would |
| take technology too far |
|
|
| % of U.S. adults who say that if development of gene |
| editing required testing on human embryos, it would |
| be … |
|
|
| Taking medical |
| technology too far |
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|
| Appropriate use of |
| medical technology |
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|
| 65 |
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|
| 33 |
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|
| Note: Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown. |
| Source: Survey conducted April 23-May 6, 2018. |
| “Public Views of Gene Editing for Babies Depend on How It Would |
| Be Used” |
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| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
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| The 2016 Pew Research Center survey using |
| different question wording found that most adults said testing on human embryos to develop gene |
| editing would make gene editing less acceptable for them. |
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| 1 The National Academies of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine launched a consensus study and at least two international |
| summits to consider these issues. |
| 2 Other research on public views of gene editing has also shown that the public distinguishes its intended purpose. Scheufele et al. (2017) |
| found that Americans were more supportive of gene editing applications that treat medical conditions than those aimed at enhancing health. |
| Similarly, Whitman (2018) also found stronger public support for gene editing to cure disease than gene editing to make people stronger or |
| more intelligent. |
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| www.pewresearch.org |
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| 5 |
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| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
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| Several patterns emerge in |
| public opinion about gene |
| editing in these varying |
| contexts. There are large |
| differences in acceptance of |
| gene editing between the |
| highly religious and less |
| religious. In addition, there is |
| a gender gap in views about |
| gene editing, with women |
| less accepting of it than men. |
| People with higher levels of |
| science knowledge and |
| greater familiarity with gene |
| editing also tend to be more |
| accepting of it. |
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|
| Religious Americans are |
| more likely to view gene |
| editing negatively |
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|
| Highly religious Americans are more likely to see gene |
| editing for babies as taking medical technology too far |
|
|
| % of U.S. adults in each religious commitment group who say changing a |
| baby’s genetic characteristics for each of the following reasons is … |
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| Taking medical technology too far |
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| Appropriate use of medical technology |
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| Treat a serious disease or condition the baby would have at birth |
| Among those ___ on the religious commitment index |
| |
| High |
| |
| Medium |
| |
| Low |
| |
| 40 |
| |
| 57 |
| |
| 27 |
| |
| 18 |
| |
| 72 |
| |
| 82 |
| |
| Reduce risk of a serious disease or condition that could occur over their |
| lifetime |
| |
| High |
| |
| 53 |
| |
| Medium |
| |
| Low |
| |
| 41 |
| |
| 27 |
| |
| Make the baby more intelligent |
| |
| 46 |
| |
| 58 |
| |
| 73 |
| |
| 6 |
| |
| High |
| |
| 93 |
| |
| 82 |
| |
| 72 |
| |
| 18 |
| |
| Low |
| |
| Medium |
| |
| Americans who are high in |
| religious commitment – that |
| is, those who attend religious |
| services at least weekly, pray |
| at least daily and say that |
| religion is very important in |
| their lives – are less inclined |
| than those with either |
| medium or low levels of |
| religious commitment to say |
| that gene editing is an appropriate use of medical technology.3 For example, those high in religious |
| commitment are closely divided over whether it is appropriate to use gene editing to reduce a |
| |
| Note: Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown. See Methodology for details |
| on index of religious commitment. |
| Source: Survey conducted April 23-May 6, 2018. |
| “Public Views of Gene Editing for Babies Depend on How It Would Be Used” |
| |
| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
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| 28 |
| |
| 3 A person is considered to have a high level of religious commitment if they attend religious services at least weekly, pray at least daily and |
| say religion is very important in their life. People are classified as having low commitment if they say religion is not too or not at all important |
| in their lives and that they seldom or never attend religious services or pray. All others are classified as having medium commitment. |
| |
| www.pewresearch.org |
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| 6 |
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| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
| |
| baby’s risk of disease later in life; 46% say this is appropriate, while 53% consider it taking |
| technology too far. In contrast, roughly three-quarters of those low in religious commitment (73%) |
| say gene editing to reduce a baby’s risk of developing a serious disease or condition is an |
| appropriate use of medical technology. And, while a 57% majority of those high in religious |
| commitment say gene editing to treat a congenital disorder in a baby is an appropriate use of |
| medical technology, a much larger share of those with low religious commitment (82%) say this is |
| appropriate. |
| |
| Those with high levels of religiosity also stand |
| out when considering the possibility that |
| development of gene editing would entail |
| testing on human embryos. An overwhelming |
| majority of those high in religious |
| commitment (87%) say this would be taking |
| medical technology too far; just 11% of this |
| group says this would be appropriate. In |
| contrast, 55% of those low in religious |
| commitment say that development of gene |
| editing techniques that require testing on |
| human embryos would be an appropriate use |
| of medical technology. |
| |
| The differences by religiosity in views on the |
| appropriateness of gene editing tend to persist |
| even when statistically controlling for other |
| factors such as gender, race and ethnicity, age, |
| and education that are related to religious |
| beliefs and practices. See Appendix for details. |
| |
| Most highly religious Americans |
| consider testing gene editing on human |
| embryos to be taking technology too far |
| |
| % of U.S. adults who say that if development of gene |
| editing required testing on human embryos, it would |
| be … |
| |
| Taking medical technology too far |
| Appropriate use of medical technology |
| |
| U.S. adults |
| |
| 65 |
| |
| 33 |
| |
| Among those ___ on the religious commitment index |
|
|
| High |
|
|
| 87 |
|
|
| Medium |
|
|
| 69 |
|
|
| 11 |
|
|
| 29 |
|
|
| Low |
|
|
| 44 |
|
|
| 55 |
|
|
| Note: Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown. See |
| Methodology for details on index of religious commitment. |
| Source: Survey conducted April 23-May 6, 2018. |
| “Public Views of Gene Editing for Babies Depend on How It Would |
| Be Used” |
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| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
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| www.pewresearch.org |
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| 7 |
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| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
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| There are also differences in views about gene |
| editing by religious affiliation, particularly if |
| such techniques would involve embryonic |
| testing. Just 11% of white evangelical |
| Protestants say that if development of gene |
| editing techniques required testing on human |
| embryos, it would be an appropriate use of |
| medical technology. |
|
|
| By contrast, about half of the religiously |
| unaffiliated (52%), including 79% of atheists |
| and 57% of agnostics, say that embryonic |
| testing to develop gene editing techniques |
| would be an appropriate use of medical |
| technology. |
|
|
| See the Appendix for other views about gene |
| editing by religious affiliation. |
|
|
| White evangelicals especially likely to |
| say gene editing involving embryonic |
| testing takes technology too far |
|
|
| % of U.S. adults who say that if development of gene |
| editing required testing on human embryos, it would |
| be … |
|
|
| U.S. adults |
| Religious affiliation |
| Protestant |
|
|
| White evangelical |
| White mainline |
| Black Protestant |
|
|
| Catholic |
|
|
| White Catholic |
| Hispanic Catholic |
|
|
| Unaffiliated |
| Atheist |
| Agnostic |
| Nothing in particular |
|
|
| Race/ethnicity |
| White |
| Black |
| Hispanic |
|
|
| Appropriate use |
| of medical |
| technology |
| 33% |
|
|
| Taking medical |
| technology too |
| far |
| 65% |
|
|
| 21 |
| 11 |
| 31 |
| 25 |
| 30 |
| 29 |
| 27 |
| 52 |
| 79 |
| 57 |
| 42 |
|
|
| 34 |
| 29 |
| 28 |
|
|
| 78 |
| 88 |
| 67 |
| 72 |
| 69 |
| 70 |
| 73 |
| 47 |
| 21 |
| 42 |
| 57 |
|
|
| 64 |
| 68 |
| 71 |
|
|
| Note: Whites and blacks include only non-Hispanics; Hispanics are |
| of any race. Respondents who did not give an answer are not |
| shown. |
| Source: Survey conducted April 23-May 6, 2018. |
| “Public Views of Gene Editing for Babies Depend on How It Would |
| Be Used” |
|
|
| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
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| www.pewresearch.org |
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| 8 |
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| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
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| Men are more accepting than women of using gene editing to change a baby’s genetic |
| makeup |
|
|
| Men are more inclined than |
| women to view gene editing as |
| an appropriate use of medical |
| technology, regardless of its |
| intent. About two-thirds of |
| men (65%) believe that gene |
| editing to reduce a baby’s risk |
| of developing a serious |
| disease later in life is an |
| appropriate use of medical |
| technology, compared with |
| 54% of women. And men |
| (76%) are more supportive |
| than women (68%) of using |
| gene editing to treat a |
| congenital disorder. |
|
|
| Similarly, more men (43%) |
| than women (24%) are |
| accepting of gene editing |
| technology if it required |
| embryonic testing to develop. |
|
|
| Men are more likely than women to view gene editing |
| for babies as appropriate |
|
|
| % of U.S. adults who say changing a baby’s genetic characteristics for each |
| of the following reasons is an appropriate use of medical technology |
|
|
| Changing a baby's genetic characteristics ... |
|
|
| To treat a serious disease/condition the |
| baby would have at birth |
|
|
| Women |
|
|
| Men |
|
|
| 68 |
|
|
| 76 |
|
|
| To reduce risk of a serious disease/condition |
| that could occur over their lifetime |
|
|
| 54 |
|
|
| 65 |
|
|
| To make the baby more intelligent |
|
|
| 13 |
|
|
| 24 |
|
|
| Gene editing to change a baby's |
| genetic characteristics ... |
|
|
| If it required testing on human embryos |
| to develop these techniques |
|
|
| 24 |
|
|
| 43 |
|
|
| 0 |
|
|
| 20 |
|
|
| 40 |
|
|
| 60 |
|
|
| 80 |
|
|
| 100 |
|
|
| Note: Respondents who gave other responses or who did not give an answer are not shown. |
| Source: Survey conducted April 23-May 6, 2018. |
| “Public Views of Gene Editing for Babies Depend on How It Would Be Used” |
|
|
| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| Women tend to have higher |
| levels of religious commitment, on average, but differences by gender tend to hold even when |
| controlling for religiosity and other factors in statistical models. See the Appendix for details. |
|
|
| Previous Pew Research Center surveys in 2016 and 2014, while not directly comparable due to |
| different polling methods and question wording, have also found that women tend to be less |
| accepting than men when it comes to gene editing for babies. |
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|
| www.pewresearch.org |
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|
| 9 |
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| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| Americans with high levels of science knowledge are more likely to view gene editing in a |
| positive light |
|
|
| People high in science |
| knowledge – based on a nine- |
| item index – tend to be more |
| accepting of using gene |
| editing for babies.4 Some |
| 86% of those with high |
| science knowledge believe it |
| is appropriate to use gene |
| editing to treat a congenital |
| disorder, compared with 58% |
| of those with low science |
| knowledge. And, 71% of those |
| with high science knowledge |
| say it is appropriate to use |
| gene editing to reduce a |
| baby’s risk of disease that |
| would occur later in life, |
| compared with 49% of those |
| with low science knowledge.5 |
|
|
| However, few Americans say |
| it is appropriate to use gene |
| editing to make a baby more |
| intelligent, regardless of their |
| level of science knowledge. |
|
|
| Those with high science knowledge are more inclined |
| to see gene editing techniques as appropriate |
|
|
| % of U.S. adults who say each of the following is an appropriate use of |
| medical technology |
|
|
| Changing a baby's genetic |
| characteristics ... |
| To treat a serious disease/condition the |
| baby would have at birth |
|
|
| Among those with ___ science |
| knowledge |
| Medium |
| |
| Low |
| |
| High |
| |
| 58 |
| |
| 86 |
| |
| To reduce risk of a serious disease/condition |
| that could occur over their lifetime |
| |
| 49 |
| |
| 71 |
| |
| To make the baby more intelligent |
| |
| Gene editing to change a baby's |
| genetic characteristics ... |
| |
| 21 |
| |
| 24 |
| |
| If it required testing on human |
| embryos to develop these techniques |
| |
| 26 |
| |
| 50 |
| |
| 0 |
| |
| 20 |
| |
| 40 |
| |
| 60 |
| |
| 80 |
| |
| 100 |
| |
| Note: Respondents who gave other responses or who did not give an answer are not shown. |
| See Methodology for details on index of science knowledge. |
| Source: Survey conducted April 23-May 6, 2018. |
| “Public Views of Gene Editing for Babies Depend on How It Would Be Used” |
| |
| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
| |
| Judgments on the appropriateness of gene editing also follow a similar pattern by education level, |
| which is closely linked with science knowledge. Those with a postgraduate degree are more |
| |
| 4 See the Methodology for details on the science knowledge index. |
| 5 These findings are in keeping with a 2017 study by Scheufele et al., which found Americans’ attitudes about gene editing varied depending |
| on their knowledge level about genetics and gene editing, as well as their religiosity. A 2013 study by Allum et al. in the United Kingdom found |
| the effect of science knowledge on support for using genetic testing to screen for serious diseases in an unborn baby was conditional on |
| religious service attendance. In this survey, there is a tendency for the effects of science knowledge to be conditional with levels of religiosity |
| in views about the use of gene editing to reduce the risk of disease and if it would require testing on human embryos. For example, among |
| people with high religious commitment, science knowledge is not related to views on the appropriateness of gene editing for babies to reduce |
| the risk of disease that could occur over their lifetime. This interaction between religious commitment and science knowledge holds even after |
| controlling for other factors in statistical models but does not occur for other views about gene editing. |
| |
| www.pewresearch.org |
| |
| 10 |
| |
| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
| |
| accepting of gene editing for treating or reducing the risk of a disease than those with a high school |
| degree or less. |
| |
| Americans who report familiarity with gene editing are more inclined to see it as |
| appropriate |
| |
| People who say they have |
| heard at least a little about |
| gene editing that can be used |
| to change a baby’s genetic |
| characteristics are more |
| likely than those who have |
| heard nothing at all to say |
| gene editing would be |
| appropriate in each of the |
| circumstances considered in |
| this survey. |
| |
| A Pew Research Center |
| survey in 2016 found a |
| similar tendency for those |
| who report familiarity with |
| gene editing to express more |
| interest in and acceptance of |
| using these technologies to |
| enhance a baby’s health over |
| the course of their lifetime. |
| |
| Those familiar with gene editing are more inclined to |
| see different uses as appropriate |
| |
| % of U.S. adults who say each of the following is an appropriate use of |
| medical technology |
| |
| Changing a baby's genetic |
| characteristics ... |
| |
| To treat a serious disease/condition the |
| baby would have at birth |
| |
| Among those who have heard ___ |
| about gene editing |
| A little |
| 71 |
|
|
| Nothing at all |
|
|
| A lot |
|
|
| 64 |
|
|
| To reduce risk of a serious disease/condition |
| that could occur over their lifetime |
|
|
| 52 |
|
|
| 65 |
|
|
| To make the baby more intelligent |
|
|
| 13 |
|
|
| 31 |
|
|
| Gene editing to change a baby's |
| genetic characteristics ... |
|
|
| If it required testing on human embryos |
| to develop these techniques |
|
|
| 24 |
|
|
| 49 |
|
|
| 0 |
|
|
| 20 |
|
|
| 40 |
|
|
| 60 |
|
|
| 80 |
|
|
| 100 |
|
|
| Note: Respondents who gave other responses or who did not give an answer are not shown. |
| Source: Survey conducted April 23-May 6, 2018. |
| “Public Views of Gene Editing for Babies Depend on How It Would Be Used” |
|
|
| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| www.pewresearch.org |
|
|
| 11 |
|
|
| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| Although gene editing for babies is still in development, a separate April 2018 survey found that |
| about half of Americans (52%) believe it is likely that within the next 50 years, we will be able to |
| eliminate almost all birth defects by manipulating the genes of an embryo before a baby is born. In |
| the current survey, as people think about a future with possible widespread use of gene editing to |
| change a baby’s genetic makeup, more anticipate negative than positive effects on society. |
|
|
| Specifically, a majority of |
| Americans (58%) believe |
| gene editing will very likely |
| lead to increased inequality |
| because it will only be |
| available to the wealthy. |
| Some 54% of Americans |
| anticipate a slippery slope, |
| saying it’s very likely that |
| “even if gene editing is used |
| appropriately in some cases, |
| others will use these |
| techniques in ways that are |
| morally unacceptable.” And, |
| 46% expect it is very likely |
| that gene editing techniques |
| will be used before we fully |
| understand how they affect |
| people’s health. |
|
|
| Larger shares of Americans believe negative effects of |
| widespread use of gene editing are very likely |
|
|
| % of U.S. adults who say each of the following would be ____ to occur if gene |
| editing to change a baby’s genetic characteristics becomes widely available |
|
|
| Very likely |
|
|
| Fairly likely |
|
|
| Not too likely |
|
|
| Not at all likely |
|
|
| Inequality will increase as it will |
| only be available for the wealthy |
|
|
| Even if used appropriately by |
| some, others will use in morally |
| unacceptable ways |
|
|
| Will be used before we fully |
| understand effects on health |
|
|
| 58 |
|
|
| 29 |
|
|
| 9 |
|
|
| 4 |
|
|
| 54 |
|
|
| 32 |
|
|
| 9 |
|
|
| 3 |
|
|
| 46 |
|
|
| 38 |
|
|
| 12 |
|
|
| 3 |
|
|
| Will pave way for new medical |
| advances that benefit society |
|
|
| 18 |
|
|
| 42 |
|
|
| 30 |
|
|
| 8 |
|
|
| Will help people live longer and |
| better quality lives |
|
|
| 16 |
|
|
| 48 |
|
|
| 27 |
|
|
| 8 |
|
|
| Note: Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown. |
| Source: Survey conducted April 23-May 6, 2018. |
| “Public Views of Gene Editing for Babies Depend on How It Would Be Used” |
|
|
| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| Far smaller shares see |
| positive outcomes as very |
| likely if gene editing for |
| babies were to become widely available. Roughly two-in-ten Americans (18%) say it is very likely |
| that development of these techniques will pave the way for new medical advances that benefit |
| society as a whole. Another 42% say this is fairly likely to occur, while 38% consider this not too or |
| not at all likely. Just 16% see the widespread use of gene editing as very likely to help people live |
| longer and better quality lives. About half (48%) say this is fairly likely, while 34% say this |
| outcome is not too or not at all likely. |
|
|
| www.pewresearch.org |
|
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| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| Women are more inclined |
| than men to expect negative |
| effects if gene editing |
| becomes widely available, in |
| keeping with gender |
| differences over acceptance |
| of gene editing. For example, |
| larger shares of women than |
| men say this technology will |
| lead to an increase in |
| inequality as it will only be |
| available for the wealthy |
| (63% say this is very likely vs. |
| 52% of men) or say it will be |
| used in morally unacceptable |
| ways (57% vs. 51%). And |
| although only minorities of |
| men and women see positive |
| effects as very likely, men are |
| somewhat more inclined to |
| anticipate positive outcomes. |
|
|
| More women than men anticipate negative effects of |
| gene editing |
|
|
| % of U.S. adults who say each of the following would be very likely to occur if |
| gene editing to change a baby’s genetic characteristics becomes widely |
| available |
|
|
| POSITIVE OUTCOMES |
|
|
| Women |
|
|
| Men |
|
|
| Will pave way for new medical |
| advances that benefit society |
|
|
| 14 |
|
|
| 23 |
|
|
| Will help people live longer and |
| better quality lives |
|
|
| 13 |
|
|
| 19 |
|
|
| NEGATIVE OUTCOMES |
|
|
| Inequality will increase as it will |
| only be available for the wealthy |
|
|
| Even if used appropriately by |
| some, others will use in morally |
| unacceptable ways |
|
|
| 52 |
|
|
| 63 |
|
|
| 51 |
|
|
| 57 |
|
|
| Will be used before we fully |
| understand effects on health |
|
|
| 42 |
|
|
| 49 |
|
|
| 0 |
|
|
| 20 |
|
|
| 40 |
|
|
| 60 |
|
|
| 80 |
|
|
| 100 |
|
|
| Note: Respondents who gave other responses or who did not give an answer are not shown. |
| Source: Survey conducted April 23-May 6, 2018. |
| “Public Views of Gene Editing for Babies Depend on How It Would Be Used” |
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| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| Expectations also vary by |
| self-reported familiarity with |
| gene editing. Those who have |
| heard a lot about gene editing to change a baby’s genetic characteristics are more inclined to |
| anticipate positive outcomes from its widespread use. Some 36% of this group thinks it is very |
| likely that the widespread availability of gene editing would pave the way for new medical |
| advances that are beneficial to society, compared with about half as many of those who have heard |
| a little or nothing about gene editing (16%). |
|
|
| However, those most familiar with gene editing are more likely than those with no familiarity to |
| also anticipate downsides. About two-thirds of those who have heard a lot about gene editing |
| (64%) say it is very likely that widespread availability of gene editing will increase inequality |
| because the technology will primarily be available only for the wealthy, compared with 53% of |
| those who have heard nothing about using gene editing to change a baby’s genetic characteristics. |
| And, 65% of those who have heard a lot about gene editing think it’s very likely that others will use |
|
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|
| these techniques in morally unacceptable ways, while 54% of those who have heard a little and |
| 52% of those who have heard nothing about gene editing say this. |
|
|
| Americans who are more familiar with gene editing are more inclined to anticipate |
| positive as well as negative effects from widespread use of gene editing |
|
|
| % of U.S. adults in each group who say each of the following would be very likely to occur if gene editing to change a |
| baby’s genetic characteristics becomes widely available |
|
|
| POSITIVE OUTCOMES |
|
|
| Will pave way for new medical |
| advances that benefit society |
|
|
| Will help people live longer and |
| better quality lives |
|
|
| NEGATIVE OUTCOMES |
|
|
| Inequality will increase as it will |
| only be available for the wealthy |
| Even if used appropriately by |
| some, others will use in morally |
| unacceptable ways |
| Will be used before we fully |
| understand effects on health |
|
|
| Heard a lot about |
| gene editing |
|
|
| Heard a little about |
| gene editing |
|
|
| Heard nothing at all |
| about gene editing |
|
|
| 36 |
|
|
| 34 |
|
|
| 16 |
|
|
| 13 |
|
|
| 16 |
|
|
| 14 |
|
|
| 64 |
|
|
| 65 |
|
|
| 59 |
|
|
| 54 |
|
|
| 53 |
|
|
| 52 |
|
|
| 54 |
|
|
| 46 |
|
|
| 43 |
|
|
| Note: Respondents who gave other responses or who did not give an answer are not shown. |
| Source: Survey conducted April 23-May 6, 2018. |
| “Public Views of Gene Editing for Babies Depend on How It Would Be Used” |
|
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| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| A similar pattern occurs with levels of science knowledge. A larger share of people with high |
| science knowledge anticipate positive outcomes from the widespread availability of gene editing |
| than those with low science knowledge. At the same time, those with high science knowledge are at |
| least equally likely as those with low science knowledge to think negative effects from the |
| widespread availability of gene editing are very likely. |
|
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| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| The American public also |
| tends to be skeptical about |
| whether medical experts fully |
| comprehend the health |
| consequences of gene editing. |
| A 36% minority of Americans |
| believe that medical |
| researchers understand the |
| health effects of gene editing |
| for babies either very (7%) or |
| fairly well (29%), while 62% |
| say medical researchers do |
| not understand the health |
| effects at all or not too well. |
|
|
| 36% of Americans say medical researchers understand |
| the health effects of gene editing at least fairly well |
|
|
| % of U.S. adults who say medical researchers understand the health risks and |
| benefits of changing a baby’s genetic characteristics … |
|
|
| Very well |
|
|
| Fairly well |
|
|
| Not too well |
|
|
| Not at all well |
|
|
| 7 |
|
|
| 29 |
|
|
| 45 |
|
|
| 17 |
|
|
| Note: Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown. |
| Source: Survey conducted April 23-May 6, 2018. |
| “Public Views of Gene Editing for Babies Depend on How It Would Be Used” |
|
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| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| Familiarity with gene editing is linked with beliefs about medical researchers’ understanding of it. |
| About half of those who have heard a lot about gene editing for babies (51%) say that medical |
| researchers understand the health effects of gene editing for babies at least fairly well, compared |
| with three-in-ten of those who have heard nothing at all (30%). However, level of science |
| knowledge based on a nine-item index is not related to views on this issue; 36% of those with high |
| science knowledge and 40% of those with low science knowledge believe that medical researchers |
| understand the health effects of changing a baby’s genetic characteristics at least fairly well. |
|
|
| There are no or only modest differences on this question by gender or religious commitment. |
|
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| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| Acknowledgments |
|
|
| This report is made possible by The Pew Charitable Trusts. This report is a collaborative effort |
| based on the input and analysis of the following individuals. Find related reports online at: |
| pewresearch.org/science. |
|
|
| Primary research team |
|
|
| Cary Funk, Director, Science and Society Research |
| Brian Kennedy, Research Associate |
| Meg Hefferon, Research Assistant |
| Mark Strauss, Writer/Editor |
| Isadora Milanez, Intern |
|
|
| Editorial and graphic design |
|
|
| Mark Strauss, Writer/Editor |
| Shannon Greenwood, Copy Editor |
| Margaret Porteus, Information Graphics Designer |
|
|
| Communications and web publishing |
|
|
| Haley Nolan, Communications Assistant |
| Sara Atske, Assistant Digital Producer |
|
|
| www.pewresearch.org |
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| 16 |
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|
|
| Methodology |
|
|
| Margins of error |
|
|
| This report is drawn from a survey conducted as |
| part of the American Trends Panel (ATP), a |
| nationally representative panel of randomly |
| selected U.S. adults living in households |
| recruited from landline and cellphone random- |
| digit-dial (RDD) surveys. Panelists participate |
| via monthly self-administered web surveys. |
| Panelists who do not have internet access are |
| provided a tablet and wireless internet |
| connection. The panel, which was created by |
| Pew Research Center, is being managed by GfK. |
|
|
| Data in this report are drawn from the panel |
| wave conducted April 23-May 6, 2018, among |
| 2,537 respondents. The margin of sampling error |
| for the full sample of 2,537 respondents is plus |
| or minus 2.8 percentage points. |
|
|
| Members of the ATP were recruited from several |
| large, national landline and cellphone RDD |
| surveys conducted in English and Spanish. At |
| the end of each survey, respondents were invited |
| to join the panel. The first group of panelists was |
| recruited from the 2014 Political Polarization |
| and Typology Survey, conducted Jan. 23-March |
| 16, 2014. Of the 10,013 adults interviewed, 9,809 |
| were invited to take part in the panel and a total |
| of 5,338 agreed to participate.6 |
|
|
| Sample size |
| 2,537 |
|
|
| Margin of error |
| in percentage |
| points |
| +/- 2.8 |
|
|
| U.S. adults |
|
|
| Men |
| Women |
|
|
| Race/ethnicity |
| White |
| Black |
| Hispanic |
|
|
| Religious commitment index |
| High |
| Medium |
| Low |
|
|
| Religious affiliation |
| NET Protestant |
|
|
| White evangelical |
| White mainline |
| Black Protestant |
|
|
| NET Catholic |
|
|
| White Catholic |
| Hispanic Catholic |
|
|
| NET Unaffiliated |
| Atheist |
| Agnostic |
| Nothing in particular |
|
|
| 1,272 |
| 1,265 |
|
|
| 1,519 |
| 412 |
| 421 |
|
|
| 440 |
| 1,291 |
| 566 |
|
|
| 1,086 |
| 349 |
| 282 |
| 283 |
| 459 |
| 254 |
| 168 |
| 703 |
| 146 |
| 158 |
| 399 |
|
|
| +/- 4.0 |
| +/- 3.8 |
|
|
| +/- 3.3 |
| +/- 7.8 |
| +/-7.6 |
|
|
| +/- 6.7 |
| +/- 3.8 |
| +/- 5.7 |
|
|
| +/- 4.2 |
| +/- 7.1 |
| +/- 7.7 |
| +/- 9.6 |
| +/- 6.5 |
| +/- 8.0 |
| +/-11.8 |
| +/-5.1 |
| +/- 11.2 |
| +/- 10.2 |
| +/- 6.8 |
|
|
| Note: The margins of error are reported at the 95% level of |
| confidence and are calculated by taking into account the average |
| design effect for each subgroup. |
| Source: Survey conducted April 23-May 6, 2018. |
| “Public Views of Gene Editing for Babies Depend on How It Would |
| Be Used” |
|
|
| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| 6 When data collection for the 2014 Political Polarization and Typology Survey began, non-internet users were subsampled at a rate of 25%, |
| but a decision was made shortly thereafter to invite all non-internet users to join. In total, 83% of non-internet users were invited to join the |
| panel. |
|
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|
|
| The second group of panelists was recruited |
| from the 2015 Pew Research Center Survey on |
| Government conducted Aug. 27-Oct. 4, 2015. Of |
| the 6,004 adults interviewed, all were invited to |
| join the panel, and 2,976 agreed to participate.7 |
| The third group of panelists was recruited from a |
| survey conducted April 25-June 4, 2017. Of the |
| 5,012 adults interviewed in the survey or pretest, |
| 3,905 were invited to take part in the panel and a |
| total of 1,628 agreed to participate.8 |
|
|
| The overall target population for Wave 34 was |
| non-institutionalized persons ages 18 and older, |
| living in the United States, including Alaska and |
| Hawaii. The sample for Wave 34 consisted of |
| 3,099 ATP members that were invited to Wave |
| 33 and were still active. This subsample was |
| selected using the following approach: |
|
|
| Margins of error continued |
|
|
| Sample size |
|
|
| Margin of error |
| in percentage |
| points |
|
|
| Science knowledge index |
| High |
| Medium |
| Low |
|
|
| Heard about gene editing |
| A lot |
| A little |
| Nothing at all |
|
|
| 679 |
| 1,274 |
| 584 |
|
|
| 326 |
| 1,449 |
| 753 |
|
|
| +/-5.2 |
| +/- 3.9 |
| +/- 5.7 |
|
|
| +/- 7.9 |
| +/-3.6 |
| +/-5.1 |
|
|
| Note: The margins of error are reported at the 95% level of |
| confidence and are calculated by taking into account the average |
| design effect for each subgroup. |
| Source: Survey conducted April 23-May 6, 2018. |
| “Public Views of Gene Editing for Babies Depend on How It Would |
| Be Used” |
|
|
| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| 1. Panelists were grouped into three strata based on how underrepresented they are |
|
|
| demographically. Then we analyzed response rates to the last five panel survey waves |
| (W28-32) to project the number of panelists in each stratum who would respond to the |
| W33 survey. |
|
|
| 2. We then determined how many panelists we wanted to sample from each stratum in W33 |
| in order to finish with around 2,500 completed interviews and have a responding sample |
| that is as representative as possible. |
|
|
| ▪ Stratum A consists of panelists who are non-internet users, are black non-Hispanic, |
| are Hispanic, or have high school or less education. There were 1,819 total panelists |
| in this stratum and they are sampled at a rate of 100% for W33. 1,806 were active |
| panelists. |
|
|
| 7 Respondents to the 2014 Political Polarization and Typology Survey who indicated that they are internet users but refused to provide an |
| email address were initially permitted to participate in the American Trends Panel by mail but were no longer permitted to join the panel after |
| Feb. 6, 2014. Internet users from the 2015 Pew Research Center Survey on Government who refused to provide an email address were not |
| permitted to join the panel. |
| 8 White, non-Hispanic college graduates were subsampled at a rate of 50%. |
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| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
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|
| ▪ Stratum B consists of panelists who are ages 18 to 34 or are non-volunteers. The |
|
|
| 1,684 total panelists in this stratum are subsampled at a rate of 63%, yielding 1,061 |
| sampled for W33 (1,057 were active). |
|
|
| ▪ Stratum C consists of the remaining 2,009 panelists not in stratum A or B. This |
|
|
| group is subsampled at a rate of 12%, yielding 241 panelists sampled for W33 (239 |
| were active). |
|
|
| The ATP data were weighted in a multistep process that begins with a base weight incorporating |
| the respondents’ original survey selection probability and the fact that in 2014 some panelists were |
| subsampled for invitation to the panel. Next, an adjustment was made for the fact that the |
| propensity to join the panel and remain an active panelist varied across different groups in the |
| sample. The final step in the weighting uses an iterative technique that aligns the sample to |
| population benchmarks on a number of dimensions. Gender, age, education, race, Hispanic origin |
| and region parameters come from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2016 American Community Survey. |
| The county-level population density parameter (deciles) comes from the 2010 U.S. decennial |
| census. The telephone service benchmark comes from the July-December 2016 National Health |
| Interview Survey and is projected to 2017. The volunteerism benchmark comes from the 2015 |
| Current Population Survey Volunteer Supplement. The party affiliation benchmark is the average |
| of the three most recent Pew Research Center general public telephone surveys. The internet |
| access benchmark comes from the 2017 ATP Panel Refresh Survey. Respondents who did not |
| previously have internet access are treated as not having internet access for weighting purposes. |
| Sampling errors and statistical tests of significance take into account the effect of weighting. |
| Interviews are conducted in both English and Spanish, but the Hispanic sample in the ATP is |
| predominantly U.S. born and English speaking. |
|
|
| Margins of error tables shown here provide the unweighted sample sizes and the error attributable |
| to sampling that would be expected at the 95% level of confidence for different groups in the |
| survey taking into account the average design effect for each subgroup. Sample sizes and sampling |
| errors for other subgroups are available upon request. |
|
|
| In addition to sampling error, one should bear in mind that question wording and practical |
| difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of opinion polls. |
|
|
| The April 2018 wave had a response rate of 82% (2,537 responses among 3,099 individuals in the |
| panel). Taking account of the combined, weighted response rate for the recruitment surveys |
|
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| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| (10.1%) and attrition from panel members who were removed at their request or for inactivity, the |
| cumulative response rate for the wave is 2.3%.9 |
|
|
| Religious commitment index |
|
|
| Survey respondents were classified into high, medium and low levels of religious commitment |
| based on three indicators: frequency of religious service attendance, self-reported importance of |
| religion in their lives and frequency of prayer. Those who attend worship services at least weekly, |
| pray at least once a day and say religion is very important in their lives are classified as high in |
| religious commitment. Those low in commitment say religion is not too or not at all important in |
| their lives, that they seldom or never attend worship services, and seldom or never pray. All others |
| are classified as exhibiting a medium level of religious commitment. |
|
|
| 9 Approximately once per year, panelists who have not participated in multiple consecutive waves are removed from the panel. These cases |
| are counted in the denominator of cumulative response rates. Note that for the March 2018 survey, we calculated the response rates by |
| computing the mean rates for the subsampled respondents (based on the rates from the recruitment survey they joined the panel on). |
|
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| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| Science knowledge index |
|
|
| Scale reliability and factor analysis |
|
|
| The Pew Research Center survey included a set of nine questions to tap public knowledge of |
| science across a range of principles and topics. Most respondents (n=1,901) completed these |
| questions as part of a previous |
| wave of the American Trends |
| Panel, conducted May 10-June |
| 6, 2016. Respondents who did |
| not participate in the previous |
| wave answered these questions |
| in this survey (n=636). The |
| following shows the |
| measurement properties of the |
| index for the combined set of |
| 2,537 respondents.10 |
|
|
| Alpha for scale |
| 0.75 |
| Alpha if item is |
| dropped |
|
|
| Knowledge index 9-items |
|
|
| Item-rest |
| correlation |
|
|
| 0.47 |
|
|
| 0.39 |
|
|
| 0.74 |
|
|
| 0.73 |
|
|
| Common |
| variance |
| explained by |
| first factor |
| 76% |
| Factor |
| loadings |
|
|
| 0.46 |
|
|
| 0.55 |
|
|
| KNOSCT22. Use of a control group |
| to determine whether a new drug is |
| effective |
| KNOSCT23. Carbon dioxide is made |
| as a consequence of burning fossil |
| fuels |
| KNOSCT27. The probability of an |
| old-bridge collapsing after a period |
| of time |
| KNOSCT28. Only bacterial |
| infections can be treated effectively |
| by antibiotic medications |
| KNOSCT29. The use of a control |
| “sugar pill” in a new drug trial is to |
| rule out a possible placebo effect |
| KNOSCT31. The health benefits |
| occurring when most people in a |
| population get a vaccine is called |
| herd immunity |
| KNOSCT32. An apple, salmon, corn |
| and a mosquito can all be |
| genetically modified. |
| KNOSCT33. Humans and mice |
| share 50% or more of the same |
| genetic makeup |
| KNOSCT34. Nitrogen makes up |
| most of the Earth’s atmosphere. |
|
|
| 0.50 |
|
|
| 0.72 |
|
|
| 0.59 |
|
|
| 0.31 |
|
|
| 0.75 |
|
|
| 0.35 |
|
|
| 0.43 |
|
|
| 0.73 |
|
|
| 0.50 |
|
|
| 0.45 |
|
|
| 0.73 |
|
|
| 0.52 |
|
|
| 0.47 |
|
|
| 0.73 |
|
|
| 0.55 |
|
|
| An exploratory factor analysis |
| finds one common factor |
| explaining 76% of the common |
| variance in the items. The |
| factor loadings show that each |
| of the nine questions is |
| moderately correlated with the |
| common factor. These |
| indicators suggest a set of items is measuring a single underlying dimension. |
|
|
| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| 0.44 |
|
|
| 0.43 |
|
|
| Source: Surveys conducted May 10-June 6, 2016, and April 23-May 6, 2018. |
| “Public Views of Gene Editing for Babies Depend on How It Would Be Used” |
|
|
| 0.73 |
|
|
| 0.50 |
|
|
| 0.73 |
|
|
| 0.52 |
|
|
| As shown in the accompanying |
| table, the internal reliability or |
| consistency of the scale as |
| measured by Cronbach’s alpha |
| is 0.75. Each of the items in the |
| scale is at least moderately |
| correlated with the other items. |
|
|
| 10 In statistical models controlling for demographics and education, there were no significant differences between respondents who |
| completed the science knowledge items in 2016 (W17) and those who completed them in 2018 (W34) on either the overall index measure or |
| the individual questions. |
|
|
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| 21 |
|
|
| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| Two parameter item response theory analysis |
|
|
| KNOSCT22. Use of a control |
| group to determine whether a |
| new drug is effective |
| KNOSCT23. Carbon dioxide is |
| made as a consequence of |
| burning fossil fuels |
| KNOSCT27. The probability of an |
| old-bridge collapsing after a |
| period of time |
| KNOSCT28. Only bacterial |
| infections can be treated |
| effectively by antibiotic |
| medications |
| KNOSCT29. The use of a control |
| “sugar pill” in a new drug trial is |
| to rule out a possible placebo |
| effect |
| KNOSCT31. The health benefits |
| occurring when most people in a |
| population get a vaccine is called |
| herd immunity |
| KNOSCT32. An apple, salmon, |
| corn and a mosquito can all be |
| genetically modified. |
| KNOSCT33. Humans and mice |
| share 50% or more of the same |
| genetic make-up |
| KNOSCT34. Nitrogen makes up |
| most of the Earth’s atmosphere. |
|
|
| % Correct Discrimination |
|
|
| Difficulty |
|
|
| 68 |
|
|
| 72 |
|
|
| 62 |
|
|
| 46 |
|
|
| 1.36 |
|
|
| -0.73 |
|
|
| 1.74 |
|
|
| -0.82 |
|
|
| 2.14 |
|
|
| -0.38 |
|
|
| 0.81 |
|
|
| 0.25 |
|
|
| 59 |
|
|
| 1.60 |
|
|
| -0.33 |
|
|
| 34 |
|
|
| 39 |
|
|
| 34 |
|
|
| 1.39 |
|
|
| 0.65 |
|
|
| 1.66 |
|
|
| 0.38 |
|
|
| 1.37 |
|
|
| 0.66 |
|
|
| Note that each of the science |
| knowledge questions are coded |
| as binary variables |
| (correct/incorrect). Both |
| Cronbach’s alpha reliability |
| analysis and the factor analysis |
| are based on a Pearson’s |
| correlation matrix. Pearson |
| correlations with binary |
| variables are restricted to a |
| limited range, underestimating |
| the association between two |
| variables when compared with |
| tetrachoric correlations. We do |
| not anticipate that the use of a |
| Pearson’s correlation matrix |
| affects the unidimensional |
| factor solution for the scale, |
| however. |
|
|
| 31 |
|
|
| 1.55 |
|
|
| 0.74 |
|
|
| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| Source: Surveys conducted May 10-June 6, 2016, and April 23-May 6, 2018. |
| “Public Views of Gene Editing for Babies Depend on How It Would Be Used” |
|
|
| We also ran an item-response |
| theory analysis (IRT) to check |
| how well each question |
| distinguishes between those |
| who know relatively more or |
| less on the scale. This analysis fits a two-parameter logistic model, allowing discrimination and |
| difficulty to vary across the items. Discrimination shows the ability of the question to distinguish |
| between those with higher and lower science knowledge. Difficulty shows how easy or hard each |
| question is for the average respondent. We did not include a guessing parameter in the model; the |
| questionnaire offered respondents an explicit option of not sure on the survey. |
|
|
| The results show variation in difficulty across the items. The easiest item required respondents to |
| identify that carbon dioxide as the gas that is made as a consequence of burning fossil fuels, while |
| the most difficult item required respondents to identify nitrogen as the gas that makes up most of |
| the Earth’s atmosphere. |
|
|
| www.pewresearch.org |
|
|
| 22 |
|
|
| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| Most of the questions also discriminate between those with higher and lower science knowledge. |
| The item with strongest ability to discriminate was the question asking respondents to calculate |
| the conditional probability of an old bridge over time. The question with the weakest ability to |
| discriminate was the question about the effectiveness of antibiotics to treat bacterial, but not other |
| kinds of infections. |
|
|
| The test information curve mirrors a normal curve centered around zero, suggesting that the |
| science knowledge index provides the most information about Americans near the mean level of |
| knowledge. |
|
|
| © Pew Research Center, 2018 |
|
|
| www.pewresearch.org |
|
|
| 23 |
|
|
| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| Appendix: Detailed tables |
|
|
| Half or more from all religious groups |
| consider gene editing to treat disease |
| that would be present at birth to be |
| appropriate |
|
|
| % of U.S. adults who say using gene editing to treat a |
| serious disease or condition a baby would have at birth |
| is … |
|
|
| U.S. adults |
| Religious affiliation |
| Protestant |
|
|
| White evangelical |
| White mainline |
| Black Protestant |
|
|
| Catholic |
|
|
| White Catholic |
| Hispanic Catholic |
|
|
| Unaffiliated |
| Atheist |
| Agnostic |
| Nothing in particular |
|
|
| Race/ethnicity |
| White |
| Black |
| Hispanic |
|
|
| Appropriate |
| use of medical |
| technology |
| 72% |
|
|
| Taking medical |
| technology too |
| far |
| 27% |
|
|
| 66 |
| 61 |
| 79 |
| 60 |
| 72 |
| 72 |
| 74 |
| 78 |
| 92 |
| 92 |
| 69 |
|
|
| 74 |
| 62 |
| 74 |
|
|
| 31 |
| 37 |
| 20 |
| 36 |
| 28 |
| 28 |
| 26 |
| 22 |
| 7 |
| 8 |
| 30 |
|
|
| 24 |
| 35 |
| 26 |
|
|
| Note: Whites and blacks include only non-Hispanics; Hispanics are |
| of any race. Respondents who did not give an answer are not |
| shown. |
| Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted April 23-May 6, 2018. |
| “Public Views of Gene Editing for Babies Depend on How It Would |
| Be Used” |
|
|
| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| www.pewresearch.org |
|
|
| 24 |
|
|
| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| White evangelical Protestants among |
| the least likely to consider gene editing |
| to reduce lifetime disease risk |
| appropriate |
|
|
| % of U.S. adults who say using gene editing to reduce the |
| risk of a serious disease or condition that could occur |
| over the course of a baby’s lifetime is … |
|
|
| U.S. adults |
| Religious affiliation |
| Protestant |
|
|
| White evangelical |
| White mainline |
| Black Protestant |
|
|
| Catholic |
|
|
| White Catholic |
| Hispanic Catholic |
|
|
| Unaffiliated |
| Atheist |
| Agnostic |
| Nothing in particular |
|
|
| Race/ethnicity |
| White |
| Black |
| Hispanic |
|
|
| Appropriate |
| use of medical |
| technology |
| 60% |
|
|
| Taking medical |
| technology too |
| far |
| 38% |
|
|
| 51 |
| 45 |
| 58 |
| 51 |
| 63 |
| 58 |
| 68 |
| 67 |
| 85 |
| 81 |
| 57 |
|
|
| 60 |
| 52 |
| 61 |
|
|
| 47 |
| 54 |
| 41 |
| 43 |
| 36 |
| 41 |
| 30 |
| 32 |
| 15 |
| 19 |
| 41 |
|
|
| 39 |
| 44 |
| 36 |
|
|
| Note: Whites and blacks include only non-Hispanics; Hispanics are |
| of any race. Respondents who did not give an answer are not |
| shown. |
| Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted April 23-May 6, 2018. |
| “Public Views of Gene Editing for Babies Depend on How It Would |
| Be Used” |
|
|
| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| www.pewresearch.org |
|
|
| 25 |
|
|
| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| Nine-in-ten white evangelical |
| Protestants see gene editing for |
| intelligence as taking technology too far |
|
|
| % of U.S. adults who say using gene editing to make a |
| baby more intelligent is … |
|
|
| U.S. adults |
| Religious affiliation |
| Protestant |
|
|
| White evangelical |
| White mainline |
| Black Protestant |
|
|
| Catholic |
|
|
| White Catholic |
| Hispanic Catholic |
|
|
| Unaffiliated |
| Atheist |
| Agnostic |
| Nothing in particular |
|
|
| Race/ethnicity |
| White |
| Black |
| Hispanic |
|
|
| Appropriate |
| use of medical |
| technology |
| 19% |
|
|
| Taking medical |
| technology too |
| far |
| 80% |
|
|
| 12 |
| 8 |
| 12 |
| 14 |
| 20 |
| 18 |
| 24 |
| 25 |
| 36 |
| 22 |
| 23 |
|
|
| 16 |
| 21 |
| 22 |
|
|
| 86 |
| 91 |
| 88 |
| 81 |
| 80 |
| 82 |
| 76 |
| 74 |
| 64 |
| 77 |
| 77 |
|
|
| 83 |
| 75 |
| 76 |
|
|
| Note: Whites and blacks include only non-Hispanics; Hispanics are |
| of any race. Respondents who did not give an answer are not |
| shown. |
| Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted April 23-May 6, 2018. |
| “Public Views of Gene Editing for Babies Depend on How It Would |
| Be Used” |
|
|
| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| www.pewresearch.org |
|
|
| 26 |
|
|
| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| Statistical models predicting opinions about appropriate uses of gene editing |
|
|
| Difference in predicted probabilities for belief that changing a baby’s genetic characteristics ____ is an appropriate use of |
| medical technology |
|
|
| Women |
|
|
| To treat a serious disease or |
| condition the baby would |
| have at birth |
| NS |
|
|
| To reduce the risk of a serious |
| disease or condition that could occur |
| over the course of his or her lifetime |
| -0.08 |
|
|
| To make the baby |
| more intelligent |
| -0.09 |
|
|
| Requiring testing on |
| human embryos |
| -0.15 |
|
|
| Race Reference category: White, non-Hispanic |
|
|
| Black, non-Hispanic |
|
|
| Hispanic |
|
|
| Other |
|
|
| Age Reference category: 18-29 |
|
|
| Ages 30-49 |
|
|
| 50-64 |
|
|
| 65+ |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| -0.20 |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| -0.10 |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| Education Reference category: High school or less |
|
|
| Postgraduate |
|
|
| College graduate |
|
|
| Some college |
|
|
| +0.16 |
|
|
| +0.14 |
|
|
| +0.09 |
|
|
| Science knowledge Reference category: Low science knowledge |
|
|
| High |
|
|
| Medium |
|
|
| +0.16 |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| -0.12 |
|
|
| -0.17 |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| +0.13 |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| +0.08 |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| Religious commitment Reference category: Low religious commitment |
|
|
| High |
|
|
| Medium |
|
|
| -0.14 |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| Religious affiliation Reference category: Unaffiliated |
|
|
| Mainline Protestant |
|
|
| Evangelical Protestant |
|
|
| Catholic |
|
|
| Other Christian |
|
|
| Other religion |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| -0.21 |
|
|
| -0.10 |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| -0.08 |
|
|
| -0.12 |
|
|
| -0.13 |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| -0.09 |
|
|
| -0.14 |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| -0.09 |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| -0.12 |
|
|
| +0.10 |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| +0.07 |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| -0.08 |
|
|
| -0.14 |
|
|
| -0.13 |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| -0.22 |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| Heard about gene editing Reference category: Heard nothing at all about gene editing to change a baby’s genetic characteristics |
|
|
| Heard a lot |
|
|
| Heard a little |
|
|
| Number of respondents |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| +0.06 |
|
|
| 2,237 |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| NS |
|
|
| 2,232 |
|
|
| +0.15 |
|
|
| +0.07 |
|
|
| 2,241 |
|
|
| +0.17 |
|
|
| +0.09 |
|
|
| 2,223 |
|
|
| Note: Figures shown are the difference in predicted probabilities with the reference category while other factors are held at their mean using binary |
| logistic regression models. Positive and negative values indicated the direction of effects. NS indicates not statistically significant based on a two- |
| tailed p value < 0.05. |
| Source: Survey conducted April 23- May 6, 2018. |
| “Public Views of Gene Editing for Babies Depend on How It Would Be Used” |
|
|
| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| www.pewresearch.org |
|
|
| 27 |
|
|
| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| Survey questionnaire and topline |
|
|
| 2018 PEW RESEARCH CENTER’S AMERICAN TRENDS PANEL |
| APRIL 23-MAY 6, 2018 |
| TOTAL N=2,537 |
|
|
| ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS PREVIOUSLY RELEASED OR HELD FOR FUTURE RELEASE |
|
|
| ASK ALL: |
| MED3 How much, if anything, have you heard or read about gene editing that can be used to change a |
|
|
| baby’s genetic characteristics? |
|
|
| April 23- |
| May 6, |
| 2018 |
| 12 |
| 56 |
| 32 |
| 1 |
|
|
| A lot |
| A little |
| Nothing at all |
| No answer |
|
|
| ASK ALL: |
| MED4 Do you think each of the following is an appropriate use of medical technology or is it taking |
|
|
| medical technology too far? [RANDOMIZE ITEMS] |
|
|
| An appropriate use of |
| medical technology |
|
|
| Taking medical |
| technology too far |
|
|
| No |
| Answer |
|
|
| a. Changing a baby's genetic characteristics |
|
|
| to make the baby more intelligent |
|
|
| April 23-May 6, 2018 |
|
|
| b. Changing a baby's genetic characteristics |
|
|
| to TREAT a serious disease or condition the |
| baby would have at birth |
| April 23-May 6, 2018 |
|
|
| c. Changing a baby's genetic characteristics |
| to REDUCE THE RISK of a serious disease |
| or condition that could occur over the |
| course of his or her lifetime |
|
|
| 19 |
|
|
| 72 |
|
|
| 80 |
|
|
| 27 |
|
|
| April 23-May 6, 2018 |
|
|
| 60 |
|
|
| 38 |
|
|
| 1 |
|
|
| 2 |
|
|
| 2 |
|
|
| TRENDS FOR COMPARISON |
| Pew Research Center survey conducted by telephone: Would you say that changing a baby’s genetic |
| characteristics to make the baby more intelligent is making appropriate use of medical advances OR is it |
| taking medical advances too far? |
|
|
| Aug. 15-25, |
| 2014 |
| 15 |
| 83 |
| 2 |
|
|
| Appropriate use of medical advances |
| Taking medical advances too far |
| Don’t know/Refused (VOL.) |
|
|
| www.pewresearch.org |
|
|
| 28 |
|
|
| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| Surveys conducted by telephone: Would you say that changing a baby’s genetic characteristics to reduce |
| the risk of serious diseases is making appropriate use of medical advances OR is it taking medical |
| advances too far? |
|
|
| Appropriate use of medical advances |
| Taking medical advances too far |
| Don’t know/Refused (VOL.) |
|
|
| Pew Research Center |
| Aug. 15-25, |
| 2014 |
| 46 |
| 50 |
| 4 |
|
|
| VCU Life Sciences |
| Survey |
| Sept. 3-26, |
| 2003 |
| 41 |
| 54 |
| 6 |
|
|
| ASK ALL: |
| MED5 Thinking about what you have heard or read, how well do you think medical researchers |
|
|
| understand the health risks and benefits of changing a baby’s genetic characteristics? |
|
|
| April 23- |
| May 6, |
| 2018 |
| 7 |
| 29 |
| 45 |
| 17 |
| 1 |
|
|
| Very well |
| Fairly well |
| Not too well |
| Not at all well |
| No answer |
|
|
| ASK ALL: |
| MED6 Thinking about society as a whole … |
|
|
| How likely, if at all, do you think each of the following would be to occur if gene editing to |
| change a baby’s genetic characteristics becomes widely available? [RANDOMIZE ITEMS] |
|
|
| Very likely |
|
|
| Fairly |
| likely |
|
|
| Not too |
| likely |
|
|
| Not at all |
| likely |
|
|
| No |
| Answer |
|
|
| a. Even if gene editing is used |
|
|
| appropriately in some cases, others |
| will use these techniques in ways |
| that are morally unacceptable |
|
|
| April 23-May 6, 2018 |
|
|
| 54 |
|
|
| 32 |
|
|
| 9 |
|
|
| b. These techniques will help people |
| live longer and better quality lives |
|
|
| April 23-May 6, 2018 |
|
|
| 16 |
|
|
| 48 |
|
|
| 27 |
|
|
| c. We will use these techniques before |
| we fully understand how they affect |
| people’s health |
|
|
| April 23-May 6, 2018 |
|
|
| 46 |
|
|
| 38 |
|
|
| 12 |
|
|
| d. |
|
|
| Inequality will increase because |
| this option will be available only for |
| the wealthy |
|
|
| April 23-May 6, 2018 |
|
|
| 58 |
|
|
| 29 |
|
|
| 9 |
|
|
| 3 |
|
|
| 8 |
|
|
| 3 |
|
|
| 4 |
|
|
| 1 |
|
|
| 2 |
|
|
| 1 |
|
|
| 1 |
|
|
| www.pewresearch.org |
|
|
| 29 |
|
|
| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| Very likely |
|
|
| Fairly |
| likely |
|
|
| Not too |
| likely |
|
|
| Not at all |
| likely |
|
|
| No |
| Answer |
|
|
| MED6 continued … |
|
|
| e. Development of these techniques |
| will pave the way for new medical |
| advances that benefit society as a |
| whole |
|
|
| April 23-May 6, 2018 |
|
|
| 18 |
|
|
| 42 |
|
|
| 30 |
|
|
| 8 |
|
|
| 1 |
|
|
| ASK ALL: |
| MED7 If gene editing to change a baby’s genetic characteristics required testing on human embryos in |
|
|
| order to develop these techniques, do you think this would be … |
|
|
| April 23- |
| May 6, |
| 2018 |
| 33 |
| 65 |
| 2 |
|
|
| An appropriate use of medical technology |
| Taking medical technology too far |
| No answer |
|
|
| ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS HELD FOR FURTHER RELEASE |
|
|
| ASK ALL: |
| BIO15 Have you seen a health care provider FOR AN ILLNESS OR MEDICAL CONDITION in the past 12 |
|
|
| months, or not? |
|
|
| April 23- |
| May 6, |
| 2018 |
| 64 |
| 36 |
| 1 |
|
|
| Yes |
| No |
| No answer |
|
|
| May 10- |
| June 6 |
| 2016 |
| 63 |
| 36 |
| 2 |
|
|
| ASK ALL: |
| G1 |
|
|
| Do you, or does anyone in your immediate family, have a gene that predisposes you to a serious |
| disease such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, heart disease or sickle cell anemia? |
|
|
| April 23- |
| May 6, |
| 2018 |
| 26 |
| 40 |
| 34 |
| 1 |
|
|
| Yes |
| No |
| Not sure |
| No answer |
|
|
| May 10- |
| June 6, |
| 2016 |
| 27 |
| 43 |
| 30 |
| 1 |
|
|
| www.pewresearch.org |
|
|
| 30 |
|
|
| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| ASK ALL: |
| G2 |
|
|
| Have you, or has anyone in your immediate family, ever had a genetic test, or haven’t you done |
| this? |
|
|
| April 23- |
| May 6, |
| 2018 |
| 14 |
| 65 |
| 20 |
| 1 |
|
|
| Yes |
| No |
| Not sure |
| No answer |
|
|
| May 10- |
| June 6 |
| 2016 |
| 10 |
| 70 |
| 19 |
| 1 |
|
|
| NOTE: RESULTS SHOWN FOR KNOSCT22-KNOSCT34 INCLUDE 636 RESPONDENTS WHO |
| ANSWERED THESE QUESTIONS APRIL 23-MAY 6, 2018 COMBINED WITH 1,901 RESPONDENTS |
| WHO ANSWERED THESE QUESTIONS IN A PREVIOUS WAVE FIELDED MAY 10-JUNE 6, 2016. |
|
|
| ASK ALL: Here’s a different kind of question. (If you don’t know the answer, select “Not sure.”) As far as |
| you know … |
|
|
| KNOSCT22 |
|
|
| Here’s a different kind of question. (If you don’t know the answer, select “Not sure.”) As |
| far as you know ... |
|
|
| Which is the better way to determine whether a new drug is effective in treating a |
| disease? If a scientist has a group of 1,000 volunteers with the disease to study, should |
| she … [RANDOMIZE OPTIONS 1 AND 2] |
|
|
| Apr 23- |
| May 6 |
| 2018 |
| 68 |
|
|
| 32 |
| 14 |
| 18 |
| <1 |
| |
| Give the drug to half of them but not to the other half, and compare |
| how many in each group get better (Correct) |
| NET Incorrect/Not sure/No answer |
| Give the drug to all of them and see how many get better |
| Not sure |
| No answer |
|
|
| [RANDOMIZE ITEMS KNOSCT23 TO KNOSCT34; KNOSCT22 ALWAYS FIRST] |
|
|
| www.pewresearch.org |
|
|
| 31 |
|
|
| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| Which gas is made as a consequence of burning fossil fuels? Is it … [RANDOMIZE |
| OPTIONS 1-4]11 |
|
|
| Carbon dioxide (Correct) |
| NET Incorrect/Not sure/No answer |
| Hydrogen |
| Helium |
| Radon |
| Not sure |
| No answer |
|
|
| ASK ALL: |
| KNOSCT23 |
|
|
| Apr 23- |
| May 6 |
| 2018 |
| 72 |
| 28 |
| 4 |
| 1 |
| 3 |
| 20 |
| <1 |
| |
| NO QUESTION KNOSCT24, KNOSCT25 AND KNOSCT26 |
|
|
| ASK ALL: |
| KNOSCT27 |
|
|
| If the chances that an old bridge will collapse starts at 1% in week 1 and doubles each |
| week (as shown below), what is the chance that the old bridge will collapse during week |
| 7? |
|
|
| Chances the bridge will collapse is… |
|
|
| 1% |
| 2% |
| 4% |
| 8% |
|
|
| at Week 1 |
| at Week 2 |
| at Week 3 |
| at Week 4 |
|
|
| Enter the % chance that the bridge will collapse at Week 7 (if the bridge is still standing |
| after Week 6)12 |
|
|
| April 23- |
| May 6, |
| 2018 |
| 62 |
| 38 |
| 20 |
| 17 |
| 1 |
| |
| 64% (Correct) |
| NET Incorrect/Not sure/No answer |
| All other numeric responses |
| Not sure |
| No answer |
|
|
| 11 In the Wave 17 May 2016 survey, the question had a minor wording difference: “What gas is made as a consequence of burning fossil |
| fuels? Is it …” |
| 12 The phrase “(if the bridge is still standing after Week 6)” was added for clarity in the April 23-May 6, 2018, wave. |
|
|
| www.pewresearch.org |
|
|
| 32 |
|
|
| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| Which of the following conditions can be treated effectively by antibiotic medications? |
|
|
| [Check all that apply] [RANDOMIZE ITEMS WITH ITEMS e AND f ALWAYS LAST] |
|
|
| Bacterial infection only (Correct) |
| NET Incorrect/Not sure/No answer |
|
|
| ASK ALL: |
| KNOSCT28 |
|
|
| April 23- |
| May 6, |
| 2018 |
| 46 |
| 54 |
|
|
| KNOSCT28 INDIVIDUAL ITEM RESPONSES |
|
|
| a. Viral infections (such as a cold) |
| b. Fungal infections (such as athlete’s foot) |
| c. Bacterial infections (such as strep throat infections) |
| d. Allergic reactions to insect bites |
| e. None of these [EXCLUSIVE PUNCH] |
| f. Not sure [EXCLUSIVE PUNCH] |
|
|
| Selected |
| 23 |
| 28 |
| 83 |
| 17 |
| 2 |
| 9 |
|
|
| Not selected |
| /No answer |
| 77 |
| 72 |
| 17 |
| 83 |
| 98 |
| 91 |
|
|
| ASK ALL: |
| KNOSCT29 |
|
|
| April 23- |
| May 6, |
| 2018 |
| 59 |
| 41 |
| 4 |
| 16 |
| 20 |
| 1 |
| |
| If a scientist wants to determine if a new drug is effective at treating high blood pressure |
| by giving half of a group of 1,000 volunteers a new medication and the other half a |
| “sugar pill” she wants to rule out … [RANDOMIZE OPTIONS 1-3] |
|
|
| A placebo effect (Correct) |
| NET Incorrect/Not sure/No answer |
| A third person effect |
| A false consensus effect |
| Not sure |
| No answer |
|
|
| NO QUESTION KNOSCT30 |
|
|
| ASK ALL: |
| KNOSCT31 |
|
|
| April 23- |
| May 6, |
| 2018 |
| 34 |
| 66 |
| 8 |
| 35 |
| 23 |
| 1 |
| |
| Which of these terms refers to health benefits occurring when most people in a |
| population get a vaccine? [RANDOMIZE OPTIONS 1-3] |
|
|
| Herd immunity (Correct) |
| NET Incorrect/Not sure/No answer |
| Population control |
| Vaccination rate |
| Not sure |
| No answer |
|
|
| www.pewresearch.org |
|
|
| 33 |
|
|
| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| ASK ALL: |
| KNOSCT32 |
|
|
| Which of the following can be genetically modified? |
|
|
| [Check all that apply] [RANDOMIZE ITEMS WITH ITEMS e AND f ALWAYS LAST] |
|
|
| April 23- |
| May 6, |
| 2018 |
| 39 |
| 61 |
|
|
| Selected all (Correct) |
| NET Incorrect/Not sure/No answer |
|
|
| KNOSCT32 INDIVIDUAL ITEM RESPONSES |
|
|
| a. An apple |
| b. Salmon |
| c. A mosquito |
| d. Corn |
| e. None of these [EXCLUSIVE PUNCH] |
| f. Not sure [EXCLUSIVE PUNCH] |
|
|
| Selected |
| 61 |
| 53 |
| 46 |
| 70 |
| 2 |
| 20 |
|
|
| Not selected |
| /No answer |
| 39 |
| 47 |
| 54 |
| 30 |
| 98 |
| 80 |
|
|
| ASK ALL: |
| KNOSCT33 |
|
|
| April 23- |
| May 6, |
| 2018 |
| 34 |
| 66 |
| 8 |
| 14 |
| 44 |
| 1 |
| |
| ASK ALL: |
| KNOSCT34 |
|
|
| April 23- |
| May 6, |
| 2018 |
| 31 |
| 69 |
| 9 |
| 9 |
| 35 |
| 15 |
| 1 |
| |
| Humans and mice share the same genetic makeup by… [RANDOMIZE ORDER LOW TO |
| HIGH; HIGH TO LOW with NOT SURE ALWAYS LAST] |
|
|
| About 50% or more (Correct) |
| NET Incorrect/Not sure/No answer |
| Less than 10% |
| Between 11% and 49% |
| Not sure |
| No answer |
|
|
| Which gas makes up most of the Earth's atmosphere? [RANDOMIZE OPTIONS 1-4] |
|
|
| Nitrogen (Correct) |
| NET Incorrect/Not sure/No answer |
| Hydrogen |
| Carbon dioxide |
|
|
| Oxygen |
| Not sure |
| No answer |
|
|
| www.pewresearch.org |
|
|
| 34 |
|
|
| PEW RESEARCH CENTER |
|
|
| TOTAL NUMBER CORRECT KNOSCT22 THROUGH KNOSCT34: |
|
|
| April 23- |
| May 6, |
| 2018 |
| 4 |
| 10 |
| 10 |
| 13 |
| 12 |
| 13 |
| 11 |
| 12 |
| 9 |
| 6 |
|
|
| 9 out of 9 |
| 8 out of 9 |
| 7 out of 9 |
| 6 out of 9 |
| 5 out of 9 |
| 4 out of 9 |
| 3 out of 9 |
| 2 out of 9 |
| 1 out of 9 |
| 0 out of 9 |
|
|
| 24 |
| 49 |
| 26 |
|
|
| High science knowledge (7-9 correct) |
| Medium science knowledge (3-6 correct) |
| Low science knowledge (0-2 correct) |
|
|
| www.pewresearch.org |
|
|
|
|
