[Dec 12, 2002]

      U.S. residents are "both hopeful and fearful" about the "rapidly advancing" ability of scientists to "manipulate" human reproduction, according to a survey released on Monday by the Genetics and Public Policy Center at Johns Hopkins University, which is the "first detailed reflection" of public opinion on the use of reproductive genetic technologies, Xinhua News Agency reports (Xinhua News Agency, 12/9). Some findings of the survey, which explored the knowledge and attitudes of 1,211 U.S. residents on reproductive cloning, genetic testing, genetic modification and government regulation, include:

• Most respondents (76%) oppose scientific efforts to clone humans, with more men (26%) than women (11%) supporting human cloning research. Overall, men (25%) were more likely than women (12%) to be "highly supportive" of reproductive genetic technologies.
  
• Two-thirds of respondents approve of using reproductive genetic testing to aid couples in delivering an infant "free of a serious genetic disease," while more than 70% of respondents disapprove of using technologies to identify or select traits, such as strength or intelligence.
  
• "Most" respondents, including the majority of Republicans, Democrats and Independents, think the government should regulate the quality and safety of reproductive genetic technologies and should limit reproductive human cloning.
  
• The respondents' "biggest fears" about reproductive genetic technologies are that they are too similar to "playing God" (34%) and that the technologies could easily be used for the "wrong purposes" (35%). The perceived "greatest benefits" of the technologies are the ability to eliminate certain genetic diseases (41%) and to improve women's chances for delivering a healthy infant (27%).
  
• In addition, public knowledge about reproductive technologies is "not keeping pace with the steep growth in genetic science," according to the report. Only 18% of respondents correctly answered six or more of the eight knowledge questions (Associated Press, 12/9). For example, "most" respondents knew that genetic tests exist to determine the future development of inherited diseases such as sickle cell anemia or cystic fibrosis, but a majority incorrectly indicated that genetic tests can determine an increased risk of developing a mental illness (Jacobs, San Jose Mercury News, 12/10).
  

"As decision-makers struggle with how to guide development and use of these powerful technologies, the options they consider must reflect society's values and priorities," Dr. Kathy Hudson, center director and former assistant director of the NIH Human Genome Project, said. She added that center seeks to provide analysis and information to a "wide range of professional and lay audiences," including scientists, religious leaders, health professionals and patients. The survey was funded with a $9.9 million grant -- the largest grant ever made for examining reproductive genetic technologies' legal, social and policy implications -- from the Pew Charitable Trusts (Associated Press, 12/9). The survey is available online.

NPR's "Talk of the Nation" yesterday included a discussion of the survey in the second hour of the program (Conan, "Talk of the Nation," NPR, 12/11). The full segment is available in RealPlayer Audio online.