Advancements in genetics have already begun changing the way scientists study, predict, diagnosis and treat diseases. But how does the public feel about gene therapy and gene editing?
In general, the public approves of gene editing in children and adults when the motivation is to improve a person's health, according to a report recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The report includes an analysis of data from 17 public opinion polls conducted over the past three decades.
Here are six more findings from the report.
1. The majority of the public supports gene therapy when it is used to cure otherwise fatal diseases (indicated by 65 percent to 87 percent of survey respondents) or by reducing the risk of developing a fatal disease in the future (indicated by 77 percent to 78 percent of respondents).
2. Sixty-four percent of people believe the federal government should fund scientific research on developing new gene-therapy treatments, while 59 percent believe the Food and Drug Administration should approve gene therapies for use in the U.S.
3. Most Americans approve of gene editing for the purpose of preventing one's children from inheriting a usually fatal genetic disease (indicated by 84 percent of respondents) or a nonfatal birth defect (66 percent to 77 percent).
4. The majority of the public does not support the use of gene editing to improve intelligence (indicated by 66 percent to 56 percent of respondents) or to improve physical traits or appearance (75 percent to 56 percent). When pollsters asked whether parents should be offered an opportunity to change their genes to enable them to have children who would be smarter, stronger or better looking, just 10 to 20 percent of the public expressed approval, according to the report.
5. Most Americans do not support changing human genes before birth, especially for the purpose of improving intelligence, physical traits or appearance. More people, though not the majority, support changing human genes before birth if it would reduce the risk of serious disease or improve the child's physical health.
6. When asked who should make decisions about whether to allow gene editing before birth to improve the child's health, physical traits or intelligence, 53 percent of respondents said scientists, physicians and other experts should decide. Only 9 percent said government officials and policymakers should decide, and 31 percent said someone else should decide.