Poll Analysis: Majority See Genetic Research as Beneficial to Self, Family

     The recent simultaneous announcement of a completed first draft of a map to the human genome by privately funded biotechnology company Celera Genomics and publicly funded Human Genome Project has been billed as one of the biggest scientific breakthroughs of our time, but has not registered that highly on the consciousness of the American people, according to a recent Los Angeles Times poll.
     Majorities of Americans said they are likely to take advantage of any tests for genetic disease that may arise from the research but a similar proportion oppose the court-upheld right of private companies to patent human genes, which private genetech companies say is the only way they can afford to fund the search for new tests and treatments.

     Harm or benefit?

     While four in ten respondents said they haven't been following the news of the breakthrough at all and another quarter said they haven't been following it very closely, a majority of Americans do tend to think the research will ultimately be beneficial to them and their families. Those who said they have been following the news closely (34%) are even more optimistic about the potential of the medical breakthrough -- nearly three out of four (73%) predict their families will ultimately benefit.
     Quite a bit of the coverage of the event has emphasized dramatic future potential uses such as genetic manipulation of gender and other physical attributes, loss of privacy, and the possibility of abuse of genetic information by insurance companies or employers. Despite exposure to these scenarios, the Times' poll found only 17% of Americans are concerned that medical knowledge of the human genome will prove to be harmful to them personally or to their families. That figure actually drops to 12% among the group who have been following the news somewhat or very closely. The biggest worry among those who fear harm is that humans have gone too far and strayed into territory best left to God or nature. Nearly three in 10 (29%) of those who fear the research will ultimately pose a danger to their families expressed that concern. Possible exploitation of the genetic information and/or loss of privacy is cited by nearly two in 10 (18%) concerned respondents.
     Generally, though, respondents were optimistic. Six in 10 say they think that the mapping of the human genome will ultimately prove to be of benefit to themselves and their families. Nearly half of those who take the optimistic view cite early detection of disease as one of the greatest of those benefits. Repairing defective genes was cited by one in four, as was an increased possibility for overall better health and long life.
     In keeping with an American ideal of equality of opportunity, the survey found a majority of respondents in agreement with the idea that environment more than heredity has the greater influence on a person's future health and happiness. Seven in 10 said a child's environment has the strongest effect on their future, 11% chose heredity, and 16% said it was some of both.

     Genetic testing

     Two-thirds of respondents -- including 78% of those who see the research as beneficial and 45% of those who predict it will be harmful -- say they would be very or somewhat likely to take a genetic test to find out if they were at risk for disease. Most of these respondents (64%) cited a general desire to find out if they run the risk of contracting such a disease as one of the main reasons they would take a genetic test, followed by 27% who cited worry over family history of disease and 20% who said they would like to know if their children are at risk.

     Some demographic notes

     Men and respondents with college degrees are more likely to say they are somewhat or very closely following the genome research news than their counterparts.
   28% of women and 42% of men are following the news
   60% of college educated are following vs. 40% of those without a college degree
     The more educated a respondent is, the more likely they are to see this breakthrough as a positive step. In addition, men are slightly more likely to predict that the research will prove beneficial to themselves and their families. Not too surprisingly, the more literally respondents view the Bible, the less likely they are to see genetic research as beneficial.
   75% of college educated vs. 54% with less than a college degree foresee benefits
   54% of women and 64% of men take the positive view
   43% of respondents who take the Bible as the literal word of God, 65% of those who don't take it completely literally, and 76% who characterize the Bible as fables, legends, history and moral precepts agree that genetic research will ultimately be of benefit.

HOW THE POLL WAS CONDUCTED
     The Times Poll contacted 1,357 adults nationwide by telephone July 27-29, 2000. Telephone numbers were chosen from a list of all exchanges in the nation. Random-digit dialing techniques were used so that listed and unlisted numbers could be contacted. The entire sample was weighted slightly to conform with census figures for sex, race, age, education and region. The margin of sampling error for the entire sample is plus or minus 3 percentage points. For certain subgroups the error margin may be somewhat higher. Poll results can also be affected by other factors such as question wording and the order in which questions are presented.