US public uncomfortable with gene editing

A poll conducted in the wake of the announcement that the State of California is considering funding gene editing research on human embryos reveals the US public are roundly divided on whether the federal government should be paying for scientists to experiment on the building blocks of life. The survey of 1000 US adults, conducted by STAT and Harvard University shows that 65% of the public think editing the genes of unborn babies at risk of life-threatening conditions should be illegal. Just 44% of respondents thought that the federal government should fund scientific research on changing the genes of unborn babies to reduce their risk of developing certain serious diseases such as Huntington’s disease or cystic fibrosis, compared to 51% who disagreed.

Most Americans oppose using powerful new technology to alter the genes of unborn babies, according to a new poll — even to prevent serious inherited diseases.

They expressed the strongest disapproval for editing genes to create “designer babies” with enhanced intelligence or looks.

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But the poll, conducted by STAT and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, found that people have mixed, and apparently not firm, views on emerging genetic techniques. US adults are almost evenly split on whether the federal government should fund research on editing genes before birth to keep children from developing diseases such as cystic fibrosis or Huntington’s disease.