Many applications of gene therapy offer enormous potential for
preventing disease and easing suffering. But data from a January
Gallup Poll indicate that most Americans are wary of gene
manipulation, as an overwhelming majority would oppose its use for
selecting the genetic traits of children.
Among the supporting arguments are that this type of technology
is needed for some couples to avoid passing on genes that could
predispose their children to inheriting a condition they would like
to avoid, such as a serious genetic disease. Opponents counter this
argument by claiming that there are alternatives to genetic
manipulation to avoid passing on hereditary illnesses, such as
pre-implantation diagnosis, egg and sperm donation, and adoption,
and that scientists are not yet able to fully predict the effect
modification will have on inherited traits.
The moral implications of these applications are highly complex,
and change rapidly with ongoing scientific progress in genetics.
However, public opinion is clear on one level: when it comes to
more frivolous potential applications, Americans do not support
genetic manipulation.
When asked about scientific discoveries that may someday make it
possible for parents planning to have a child to select genetic
traits such as intelligence, height, or artistic talent, 88% of
respondents to the poll indicated that they believe that parents
should not be allowed to select the traits for their child,
and instead, the child should be born with whatever traits it would
naturally have. Fewer than 1 in 10 Americans (8%) believe parents
should be allowed to select the traits they wish their child to
have*.
When asked if they personally would take advantage of this type
of technology if available, only 7% of Americans indicated that
they would select the traits they wanted their child to have. More
than 9 in 10 Americans (91%) said they would let their child be
born with whatever traits he or she would naturally have**.
*Results are based on telephone interviews with 489 national
adults, aged 18 and older, conducted Jan. 23-25, 2003. For results
based on these samples of national adults, one can say with 95%
confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is
±5%.
**Results are based on telephone interviews with 511 national
adults, aged 18 and older, conducted Jan. 23-25, 2003. For results
based on these samples of national adults, one can say with 95%
confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is
±5%.
