This page reports results of 23 public opinion surveys on the new human genetic and reproductive technologies. There is a bias towards Europe, Canada, and especially the United States, where more polling data is available. All numbers are percents unless otherwise noted. Not all results were readily available, and are indicated by a hyphen.
April
2002 - Stop Human Cloning
April
2002 - Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research
April
2002 - Americans to Ban Cloning
February
/ March 2002 - The Pew Research Center for the People and the
Press
November
/ December 2001 - Ipsos-Reid
November
2001 - CNN/USA Today/Gallup
August
2001 - ABCNEWS/Beliefnet
Fall
2000 - System Three Scottish poll
March
2000 - PricewaterhouseCoopers Canadian poll
August
1999 - Novartis UK poll
February
1998 - CTV / Angus Reid
1997
- Harris Research UK poll
1996
- National Center for Genome Resources
1994
- Macer Japan and Australia poll
1992
- Macer Japan and New Zealand poll
1987
- Office of Technology Assessment
- Survey population: 647 adult Americans
- Date of survey: May 13 to May 14, 2002
- Margin of error: 4%
|
|
Yes |
No |
|
Is it possible to clone human beings?
|
76 |
18 |
| Should scientists be allowed to clone humans? |
11 |
85 |
Source:
- "Poll: Human Cloning Is Possible," CBS News (May 15,
2002)
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/05/15/opinion/polls/main509180.shtml
- Survey population: 1012 adult Americans
- Date of survey: May 6 to May 9, 2002
- Margin of error: 3%
| Do you favor or oppose each of the following? How about... |
Approve |
Disapprove |
No opinion |
| cloning of endangered species to keep them from becoming extinct |
38 |
58 |
4 |
| cloning of dogs, cats, or other animals that people keep as pets |
15 |
82 |
3 |
| cloning of human organs or body parts that can then be used in medical transplants |
59 |
37 |
4 |
| cloning of human embryos for use in medical research* |
34 |
61 |
5 |
| - men |
40 |
- |
- |
| - women |
29 |
- |
- |
| - attend church weekly |
21 |
72 |
- |
| - attend church nearly weekly |
30 |
66 |
- |
| - attend church less often |
45 |
50 |
- |
| - east US |
37 |
58 |
- |
| - midwest |
32 |
61 |
- |
| - south |
27 |
68 |
- |
| - west |
42 |
54 |
- |
| - "pro-choice" |
50 |
45 |
- |
| - "pro-life" |
20 |
77 |
- |
| cloning of human cells from adults for use in medical research |
51 |
44 |
5 |
| cloning that is designed specifically to result in the birth of a human being |
8 |
90 |
2 |
| Regardless of whether or not you think it should be legal, for each one, please tell me whether you personally believe that in general it is morally acceptable or morally wrong. How about … |
Morally acceptable |
Morally wrong |
Depends / not a moral issue / no
opinion |
| cloning animals |
29 |
66 |
5 |
| cloning humans |
7 |
90 |
3 |
| medical research using stem cells obtained from human embryos |
52 |
39 |
9 |
* The poll shows no partisan differences within the public in its reaction to cloning human embryos for research.
Source:
- Lydia Saad, "Cloning Humans Is a Turn Off to Most Americans ,"
Gallup News Service (May 16, 2002)
http://www.gallup.com/poll/releases/pr020516.asp (login required)
April 2002 - Stop Human Cloning
- Survey population: Americans
|
think it is wrong to create human embryos for
medical research |
59 |
Source:
- Alison McCook, "Do Americans Support Cloning? Surveys
Conflict," Reuters (April 29, 2002)
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/7884.html
April 2002 - Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (advocates research cloning)
- Survey population: 1,022 adult Americans
- Date of survey: April 18 to April 21, 2002
- Conducted by: Opinion Research Corporation International
- Margin of error: 3%
|
|
Support |
Oppose |
Don't know |
| favor the government allowing scientists to do therapeutic cloning research to produce stem cells for treating life-threatening diseases* |
68 |
26 |
6 |
| - men |
71 |
- |
- |
| - women |
65 |
- |
- |
| - had at least a college degree |
73 |
- |
- |
| - had only a high school degree |
64 |
- |
- |
| want to outlaw the research |
< 30 |
52 |
- |
* This level of support was reached when questioners were given a list of diseases—diabetes, Parkinson's disease and spinal cord injury—that could be treated with stem cells produced by the research.
Mary Cannon of Stop Cloning Now argued that this poll is flawed because 53% of respondents said they were not opposed to reproductive cloning. Other polls suggest 85%-90% of Americans oppose reproductive cloning.
Sources:
- Alison McCook, "Do Americans Support Cloning? Surveys
Conflict," Reuters (April 29, 2002)
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/7884.html - "New Poll Shows More Than Two Thirds of Americans Support
Therapeutic Cloning Research to Produce Stem Cells," Coalition for
the Advancement of Medical Research (April 24, 2002)
http://www.camradvocacy.org/fastaction/news.asp?id=250
April 2002 - Americans to Ban Cloning
- Survey population: 807 adult Americans
- Date of survey: April 13 to April 15, 2002
- Conducted by: The Polling Company
- Margin of error: 3.5%
| Just last week, President Bush stated that he is opposed to both reproductive cloning, that is cloning with the goal of creating a child, and research cloning, which involves the creation of cloned human embryos for the purpose of destroying them to retrieve stem cells from the embryos for medical experiments.* | ||||
|
Strongly agree |
Somewhat agree |
Don't know / unsure / depends |
Somewhat disagree |
Strongly disagree |
|
48 |
15 |
8 |
13 |
16 |
| Person 1 supports human cloning to allow science
and research to pursue cures to diseases like cancer,
Alzheimer's, diabetes and Parkinson's. Person 1 is opposed to
cloning for creation of human beings, but supports cloning for
creation of human embryos, which would be destroyed when used
for medical research.
Person 2 agrees that it is important to use science and research to cure diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, diabetes and Parkinson's, but says that there are more ethical ways, like through the use of adult stem cells. Person 2 says it is wrong to create human embryos for the specific purpose of destroying them, even in medical research.** | ||||
|
Strongly agree person 1 |
Somewhat agree person 1 |
Don't know / both / neither |
Somewhat agree person 2 |
Strongly agree person 2 |
|
14 |
12 |
15 |
21 |
38 |
| Would you be more or less likely to vote for a candidate for office if you knew he or she supported making legal the cloning of human embryos for medical experimentation?*** | ||||
|
Much more likely |
Somewhat more likely |
No difference / do not know |
Somewhat less likely |
Much less likely |
|
10 |
11 |
19 |
16 |
44 |
* With the exception of singles with household earnings over $50K, all demographic groups are more likely to agree than disagree. Women are ten points more likely than men to support the President’s position (68%, compared to 58%). Those most likely to support the President’s statement include middle-income households (between $30K and $49K; 71%), those in the South Central region of the country (71%), 25-34 year olds (69%), and Americans with children under age 18 (66%). Marriage intensifies support as well. Over two-thirds (67%) married Americans agree with the President, as do 70% of married women. Even those groups least likely to agree with the President, single men, and singles making over $50K, show approximately half in agreement (51%, and 46%, respectively).
** Women are more likely than men to support the conservative position on cloning (62%, compared to 55%). African Americans (65%), those with children (65%), married individuals (64%), and New Englanders (63%) are the most likely to agree with "person 2." Over half of young Americans age 18-24 (56%) also support "person 2." Married women are the most likely to show their support for the conservative position (69%; 51% "strongly agree"), and differentiate themselves from single women, of which a smaller majority, 53%, agree. Four-in-ten (40%) of those who oppose the President’s statement in the earlier question also indicated they agree with "person 2," the conservative position on human cloning for medical research
*** African-Americans seem willing to register their opposition to human cloning at the ballot box (72%), and are less likely to vote for a candidate that supports cloning human embryos for medical experimentation, by a far higher margin than Whites (59%). Over two-thirds (68%) of women said they would be less likely to vote for a candidate that supported legal cloning of human embryos for medical experimentation, compared to 52% of men. An additional 39% of those who actually oppose the President’s statement in the earlier question, and 22% of those who side with legalizing human cloning for medical experimentation (person 1), are still less likely to vote for a candidate that supports human cloning for medical experiments. Fifteen percent of those that disagree with the President, and 20% of those who side with "person 1," said the issue makes "no difference" in their vote. Men were statistically more likely than women to say the issue makes "no difference" in how they would vote (15%, compared to 10%). Married women (70%), and those over 55 (65%) are also among the most likely to oppose candidates that support cloning human embryos for medical experimentation. Those most likely to vote for a candidate that supports legalized cloning of human embryos include 18-24 year olds (35%), singles with income over $50K (29%), and married men (28%).
Source:
- "Poll on American Support of Human Cloning," Americans to Ban
Cloning (April 22, 2002)
http://www.cloninginformation.org/info/poll_02-04-22.htm
http://www.cloninginformation.org/info/poll_02-04-22b.htm
February / March 2002 - The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press
- Survey population: 2002 adult Americans
- Date of survey: February 25 to March 10, 2002
- Conducted in association with the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life
- Margin of error: 3.5%
|
|
Favor |
Oppose |
Don't know / Refused |
| Do you favor or oppose scientific experimentation on the cloning of human beings? |
17 |
77 |
6 |
| - White evangelical Protestant |
8 |
88 |
4 |
| - White mainline Protestant |
15 |
79 |
6 |
| - White Catholic |
18 |
75 |
7 |
| - Black Protestant |
13 |
81 |
6 |
| - Secular |
33 |
56 |
11 |
| (If opposed) Is your objection to research on human cloning based more on ... | the belief that the science is not yet safe enough but could be in the future | the belief that it is morally wrong | Both / other / don't know / refused |
| - all |
19 |
72 |
9 |
| - White evangelical Protestant |
10 |
81 |
9 |
| - White mainline Protestant |
23 |
67 |
10 |
| - White Catholic |
19 |
72 |
9 |
| - Black Protestant |
17 |
78 |
5 |
| - Secular |
32 |
57 |
11 |
Source:
- "Public Makes Distinctions on Genetic Research," The Pew
Research Center for the People and the Press (April 9, 2002)
http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=152
- Survey population: 900 registered American voters
- Date of survey: February 12 to February 13, 2002
- Margin of error: 3%
| As you may know, scientists have made advances
in cloning, where they can reproduce a whole animal from a
single cell. Do you think it is acceptable to use cloning to
... |
Acceptable | Not acceptable | Don't know | |
| reintroduce extinct species? |
20 |
72 |
8 | |
| reproduce endangered species? |
29 |
64 |
7 | |
| reproduce livestock? |
23 |
71 |
6 | |
| reproduce a beloved pet such as a dog or cat? |
12 |
84 |
4 | |
| reproduce humans? |
7 |
89 |
4 | |
|
|
Yes |
No |
Not sure | |
|
(Asked of pet owners) If a company announced
that a perfect copy of your pet could be made when the pet got
old or died, would you order a copy or not? |
6 |
92 |
2 | |
| How likely do you think it is that somewhere in the world a human has already been secretly cloned? | ||||
|
Very likely |
Somewhat likely |
Not very likely |
Not at all likely |
Not sure |
|
30 |
26 |
20 |
18 |
6 |
This poll has the greatest number of repeated surveys: four since 1997. Follow the link below for older data.
Source:
- Dana Blanton, "Poll: Send in the Clones?," Fox News
(February 15, 2002)
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,45676,00.html
November / December 2001 - Ipsos-Reid
- Survey population: 1000 adult Americans
- Date of survey: November 30 to December 2, 2001
- Margin of error: 3.1%
| If you had to choose, which comes closest to your preference: |
A complete ban on all research into human
cloning without exception |
A ban on human cloning of full-grown
humans, while still allowing research on cloned embryos, to learn more about certain diseases |
Oppose any law that restricts research into
human cloning |
Not sure |
| All |
33 |
39 |
21 |
6 |
| Gender | ||||
| - male |
30 |
40 |
25 |
4 |
| - female |
36 |
39 |
18 |
7 |
| Age | ||||
| - 18-34 |
33 |
41 |
22 |
3 |
| - 35-54 |
32 |
41 |
22 |
5 |
| - 55+ |
36 |
35 |
20 |
9 |
| Income | ||||
| - < $25,000 |
41 |
31 |
20 |
9 |
| - $25-$50,000 |
30 |
42 |
24 |
4 |
| - > $50,000 |
30 |
46 |
21 |
3 |
| Region | ||||
| - Northeast |
32 |
39 |
26 |
3 |
| - Midwest |
34 |
38 |
21 |
8 |
| - South |
35 |
37 |
20 |
8 |
| - West |
31 |
45 |
21 |
3 |
| Children | ||||
| - have children |
35 |
40 |
19 |
6 |
| - no children |
32 |
39 |
23 |
6 |
| Education | ||||
| - high school or less |
39 |
31 |
23 |
8 |
| - some college |
34 |
39 |
21 |
6 |
| - college degree |
27 |
50 |
20 |
3 |
| Employment | ||||
| - full time |
29 |
44 |
22 |
5 |
| - part time |
38 |
39 |
17 |
6 |
| - not employed |
40 |
35 |
19 |
6 |
| - retired |
38 |
30 |
24 |
8 |
| Marital status | ||||
| - married |
36 |
39 |
19 |
5 |
| - other |
30 |
39 |
24 |
6 |
| Race | ||||
| - white |
33 |
40 |
21 |
6 |
| - other |
33 |
37 |
25 |
4 |
| Party affiliation | ||||
| - Republican |
38 |
41 |
17 |
4 |
| - Democrat |
25 |
41 |
27 |
6 |
| - Independent |
46 |
29 |
15 |
10 |
Source:
- "Stem Cell Research Debate Last Summer Paved The Way For
Greater Acceptance of Human Cloning Research Today," Ipsos-Reid
(December 3, 2001)
http://www.ipsos-reid.com/media/dsp_displaypr_cdn.cfm?id_to_view=1368
November 2001 - CNN / USA Today / Gallup
- Survey population: 507 to 518 adult Americans
- Date of survey: November 26 to November 27, 2001
- Margin of error: 3% to 5%
|
|
Approve |
Disapprove |
No opinion |
| Do you approve or disapprove of cloning that is designed specifically to result in the birth of a human being? |
9 |
88 |
3 |
| Do you approve or disapprove of cloning that is not
designed specifically to result in the birth of a human being,
but is designed to aid medical research that might find
treatments for certain diseases? |
54 |
41 |
5 |
Source:
- "USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll results," USA Today
(November 28, 2001)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/attack/2001/11/28/poll-results.htm
August 2001 - ABCNEWS/Beliefnet
- Survey population: 1024 adult Americans
- Date of survey: August 8 to August 12, 2001
- Conducted by: TNS Intersearch
- Margin of error: 3%
|
Legal |
Illegal | |||||
| Do you think it should be legal or illegal to clone humans in the United States?* |
11 |
87 | ||||
| - men |
16 |
82 | ||||
| - women |
6 |
93 | ||||
| - < $25,000/year |
8 |
92 | ||||
| - > $100,000/year |
20 |
80 | ||||
| - evangelical Protestant |
3 |
95 | ||||
| - Catholic |
8 |
91 | ||||
| - non-evangelical Protestant |
15 |
83 | ||||
| - no religion |
22 |
77 | ||||
|
Legal |
Illegal | |||||
| Do you think human cloning for medical treatments should be legal or illegal in the United States?** |
33 |
63 | ||||
| - men |
41 |
56 | ||||
| - women |
27 |
70 | ||||
| - < $25,000/year |
23 |
75 | ||||
| - > $100,000/year |
55 |
44 | ||||
| - evangelical Protestant |
18 |
79 | ||||
| - Catholic |
32 |
65 | ||||
| - non-evangelical Protestant |
39 |
53 | ||||
| - no religion |
53 |
46 | ||||
|
Legal |
Illegal | |||||
| Do you think it should be legal or illegal to clone animals in the United States*** |
37 |
59 | ||||
| - men |
49 |
47 | ||||
| - women |
25 |
71 | ||||
| - < $25,000/year |
17 |
81 | ||||
| - > $100,000/year |
64 |
34 | ||||
| - evangelical Protestant |
19 |
79 | ||||
| - Catholic |
36 |
61 | ||||
| - non-evangelical Protestant |
43 |
54 | ||||
| - no religion |
55 |
40 | ||||
|
More likely |
Less likely |
Does not affect opinion | ||||
| Human cloning for medical treatments is legal in some other countries, such as England. Does this make you more likely or less likely to think it should be legal in the United States, or doesn't it affect your opinion on the issue one way or the other? |
7 |
10 |
82 | |||
| What's had the most influence on your opinion on the issue of cloning? | ||||||
|
Religious beliefs |
Non-religious beliefs |
Education |
The news |
Personal experience |
Family and friends |
Something else |
|
36 |
17 |
16 |
15 |
4 |
3 |
9 |
* Prefaced by "Scientists say it's also possible to clone humans, using basic genetic material from one person to produce a child with the exact same genetic makeup."
** Prefaced by "Some scientists want to use human cloning for medical treatments only. They would produce a fertilized egg, or human embryo, that's an exact genetic copy of a person, and then take cells from this embryo to provide medical treatments for that person. Supporters say this could lead to medical breakthroughs. Opponents say it could lead to the creation of a cloned person, because someone could take an embryo that was cloned for medical treatments and use it to produce a child."
*** Prefaced by "Scientists have cloned animals, using basic genetic material from one animal to produce an offspring with the exact same genetic makeup. Supporters say cloning animals can lead to advances in medicine and agriculture. Opponents say cloning animals is morally wrong and may produce offspring with genetic abnormalities."
For both animal and therapeutic cloning, supporters say medical
breakthroughs could result. Opponents of animal cloning say it's
morally wrong and may produce offspring with genetic abnormalities;
opponents of therapeutic cloning say it could lead to the creation
of a cloned human.
Source:
- Dalia Sussman, "Majority Opposes Human Cloning," ABC
News (August 16, 2001)
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/scitech/DailyNews/poll010816_cloning.html
http://www.pollingreport.com/science.htm#Cloning
- Survey population: 1,209 adult Americans
- Date of survey: July 2 to July 15, 2001
- Conducted by: Zogby International
- Margin of error: 3%
|
|
opposed |
supportive |
| Regarding cloning human beings, are you* |
90** |
8 |
| - Democrats |
87 |
- |
| - Republicans |
94 |
- |
|
|
yes |
no |
| Should the government closely regulate all cloning research in the US? |
52 |
- |
| Should all cloning research be banned? |
40 |
- |
* Also overwhelmingly opposed are 18-29 year-olds (82% opposed),
50-64 year-olds (89% opposed), high school graduates (92% opposed)
and college graduates (89% opposed).
** 82% are strongly opposed
Source:
- "Zogby 'FutureWatch' Poll Reveals: Americans Strongly Oppose
Human Cloning," Zogby International (November 26,
2001)
http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=508
- Survey population: 1016 Americans
- Date of survey: February 7 to February 8, 2001
|
good idea / yes |
bad idea / no | ||
| Do you think it is a good idea or a bad idea to clone animals such as sheep? |
29 |
67 | |
| In general, do you think it is a good idea or a bad idea to clone human beings? |
7 |
90 | |
| Do you think it is against God's will to clone human beings, or don't you feel this way? |
69 |
23 | |
| Do you think scientists should be allowed to clone human beings or don't you think so? |
10 |
88 | |
| Do you think the clone of a deceased person would have the same personality as that person? |
10 |
74 | |
| If you had a chance, would you clone yourself or wouldn't you do that? |
5 |
93 | |
| Do you think each of the following justifies creating a human clone or don't you think so? |
good idea / yes |
bad idea / no | |
| - To produce copies of humans whose vital organs can be used to save the lives of others |
28 |
68 | |
| - To save the life of the person who is being cloned |
21 |
74 | |
| - To help infertile couples to have children without having to adopt |
20 |
76 | |
| - To allow parents to have a twin child at a later date if they wanted to |
10 |
88 | |
| - To allow parents who have lost a child to create a clone of the child they lost |
10 |
88 | |
| - To allow gay couples to have children using only their own genes |
10 |
86 | |
| - To create genetically superior human beings |
6 |
92 | |
| If scientists could clone the following people, do you think they should do so? |
good idea / yes |
bad idea / no | |
| Albert Einstein |
18 |
81 | |
| Abraham Lincoln |
14 |
85 | |
| Isaac Newton |
14 |
84 | |
| Beethoven |
12 |
87 | |
| Michael Jordan |
10 |
89 | |
| Humphrey Bogart |
6 |
92 | |
| (Asked of those who think cloning human beings is a bad idea) What is the main reason you are against the cloning of human beings? | |||
|
Because of your religious beliefs |
Because cloning interferes with human
distinctiveness and individuality |
Because cloning could be used for
questionable purposes like breeding a superior race or clone
armies |
Because the technology involved is
dangerous |
|
34 |
22 |
22 |
14 |
| Do you think it will be possible to create a human clone in the next 10 years, 20 years, 50 years or more, or don't you think it will ever be possible to create a human clone? | |||
|
10 years |
20 years |
50 years or more |
Never be possible |
|
45 |
23 |
10 |
15 |
Source:
- "TIME/CNN Poll — Cloning," Time.com (February 11,
2001)
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,99005,00.html
Fall 2000 - System Three Scottish poll
- Survey population: 1001 Scots
- Date of survey: Fall 2000
|
agree |
disagree | |
| Are opposed to the creation of "designer babies" for any reason other than to stop hereditary illnesses.* |
~ 90 |
- |
| - males |
- |
10 |
| - females |
- |
6 |
| - age 18-24 |
- |
16 |
| Feel genetic modification of embryos to achieve either a male or female child was wrong in all circumstances. |
48 |
8 |
| - age 18-24 |
38 |
- |
| - age 35-44 |
40 |
- |
| - age 55-64 |
57 |
- |
| - age 65+ |
67 |
- |
| Prepared to accept "born-to-order" babies for medical reasons. |
42 |
- |
* Males were slightly more in favour of the creation of "designer babies" than females, as were those in the lower age brackets.
Sources:
- Valerie Hannah, "Scots reject creation of designer babies," The Herald (UK) (November 6, 2000)
March 2000 - PricewaterhouseCoopers Canadian poll
- Survey population: 2,580 Canadians aged 15 and older
- Date of survey: March 2000
- Margin of error: 1.9%
| Are opposed to scientists making a genetically identical copy of a human being.* |
~ 90 |
| Find it very or somewhat acceptable to clone human organs for transplants or tissue required to treat medical conditions. |
75 |
| Find cloning of human skin or other organs such as hearts and livers acceptable. |
> 80 |
| Find genetic engineering to preselect the sex of an unborn child unacceptable. |
< 80 |
| Find genetic engineering to change the eye colour or other physical features of an unborn child unacceptable. |
74 |
| Find it acceptable for scientists to use biotechnology to cure an inherited medical condition or to decrease the risk of illness. |
> 50 |
* When they explained why they opposed the cloning of whole human beings, about 42 percent said it was "simply unacceptable," and just less than 22 percent said cloning was unacceptable because it is too dangerous and has unknown consequences for humans. Of the 10 percent of Canadians who did not oppose cloning of entire human beings, most were men.
Source:
- "Canadians Support Cloning of Human Organs, Survey Says,"
PricewaterhouseCoopers (February 20, 2001)
http://www.newswire.ca/releases/February2001/20/c5067.html - Heather Scoffield, "Canadians Favor Limited Use of Clones for Emergencies Only, Survey Finds," The Globe and Mail (June 19, 2000)
August 1999 - Novartis UK poll
- Survey population: 991 UK adults aged 15+
- Date of survey: August 19 to August 24, 1999
- Conducted by: MORI
|
Which, if any, of the following do you support
and which do you oppose? |
Support |
Oppose |
Don't know |
| Cloning and growing human cells |
28 |
60 |
11 |
Source:
- "Public Support For Controversial Technologies Could Increase
If Applications Are Explained," MORI (September 8, 1999)
http://www.mori.com/polls/1999/novartis.shtml
February 1998 - CTV / Angus Reid
- Survey population: 1000 Canadian adults
- Date of survey: February 9 to February 12, 2001
- Margin of error: 3.2%
|
|
Agree |
Disagree |
Don't Know |
| I fear that cloning human beings will be used wrongly by people who only want to create a master race. |
73 |
25 |
2 |
| - age 18-34 |
69 |
29 |
2 |
| - age 35-54 |
75 |
23 |
2 |
| - age 55+ |
75 |
23 |
2 |
| - male |
64 |
33 |
2 |
| - female |
81 |
16 |
2 |
| - less than high school education |
73 |
23 |
3 |
| - high school degree |
72 |
25 |
2 |
| - post secondary education |
73 |
25 |
2 |
| - university degree |
73 |
25 |
2 |
| - < $25,000 income |
77 |
21 |
2 |
| - $25,000-$55,000 income |
71 |
27 |
1 |
| - > $55,000 income |
73 |
25 |
2 |
|
|
Agree |
Disagree |
Don't Know |
| I think that cloning human beings for such things as replacement body parts, transplants and experimenting with new drugs, if carefully regulated, is not a bad thing. |
46 |
53 |
2 |
| - age 18-34 |
57 |
42 |
2 |
| - age 35-54 |
40 |
58 |
2 |
| - age 55+ |
40 |
59 |
1 |
| - male |
51 |
47 |
2 |
| - female |
40 |
58 |
1 |
| - less than high school education |
46 |
54 |
- |
| - high school degree |
48 |
49 |
3 |
| - post secondary education |
44 |
54 |
1 |
| - university degree |
45 |
54 |
2 |
| - < $25,000 income |
46 |
52 |
2 |
| - $25,000-$55,000 income |
46 |
53 |
1 |
| - > $55,000 income |
43 |
55 |
2 |
|
|
Agree |
Disagree |
Don't Know |
| I agree with people who say that cloning should never be allowed to happen because it means that we are playing God. |
65 |
33 |
2 |
| - age 18 - 34 |
60 |
38 |
2 |
| - age 35 - 54 |
66 |
32 |
2 |
| - age 55+ |
67 |
30 |
3 |
| - male |
55 |
43 |
2 |
| - female |
74 |
24 |
2 |
| - less than high school education |
66 |
31 |
3 |
| - high school degree |
70 |
28 |
2 |
| - post secondary education |
69 |
29 |
2 |
| - university degree |
56 |
42 |
2 |
| - <$25,000 income |
65 |
31 |
4 |
| - $25,000 - $55,000 income |
68 |
30 |
2 |
| - > $55,000 income |
59 |
39 |
1 |
|
|
Agree |
Disagree |
Don't Know |
| I think people should have the freedom, in the future, to clone themselves and have a baby exactly like themselves to raise as their own child. |
12 |
87 |
1 |
| - age 18-34 |
14 |
86 |
- |
| - age 35-54 |
11 |
87 |
1 |
| - age 55+ |
12 |
86 |
2 |
| - male |
17 |
82 |
1 |
| - female |
8 |
91 |
1 |
| - less than high school education |
17 |
80 |
3 |
| - high school degree |
13 |
86 |
1 |
| - post secondary education |
11 |
89 |
1 |
| - university degree |
12 |
88 |
- |
| - <$25,000 income |
14 |
84 |
2 |
| - $25,000-$55,000 income |
13 |
86 |
1 |
| - >$55,000 income |
12 |
88 |
- |
Source:
- "Canadians Fear Cloning Will Be Used to Create a Master Race,"
Ipsos/Reid (March 17, 1998)
http://www.angusreid.com/media/dsp_displaypr_cdn.cfm?id_to_view=849
1997 - Harris Research UK poll
|
Human cloning should never be allowed and all
research should be stopped. |
72 |
| Cloning research should continue under strict controls and a decision taken later. |
19 |
| Cloning should be allowed when it becomes possible. |
4 |
Source:
- Wellcome Trust, Public Perspectives on Human Cloning (London: Wellcome Trust, 1998)
- The Independent (UK) (March 7, 1997)
1996 - National Center for Genome Resources
- Survey population: 1039 Americans
| How do you feel about scientists changing the makeup of human cells to... |
Approve | ||
| cure a usually fatal disease (B) |
85 | ||
| reduce the risk of a usually fatal disease (C) |
84 | ||
| prevent/stop children from inheriting a usually fatal disease (D) |
86 | ||
|
prevent/stop children from inheriting a
usually nonfatal disease (E) |
72 | ||
| improve the physical characteristics children would inherit (F) |
35 | ||
|
Yes, it is wrong | |||
| On balance, do you feel that changing the genetic makeup of human cells is morally wrong, or not? (A) |
22 | ||
| - less than high school education |
38 | ||
| - college graduates |
16 | ||
|
Approve | |||
| How do you feel about scientists changing the makeup of human cells to improve the physical characteristics children would inherit? |
35 | ||
| - less than high school education |
61 | ||
| - high school graduates |
40 | ||
| - some college education |
27 | ||
| - college graduates |
28 | ||
Survey of leadership opinions*
|
|
A |
B |
C approve |
D approve |
E approve |
F approve |
| Doctors |
8 |
90 |
89 |
90 |
79 |
28 |
| Patient representatives |
8 |
97 |
96 |
94 |
84 |
25 |
| Religious leaders |
10 |
92 |
88 |
88 |
76 |
20 |
| Biotech industry leaders |
10 |
91 |
86 |
86 |
79 |
18 |
| Media leaders |
4 |
94 |
88 |
86 |
82 |
16 |
| Policy makers |
9 |
87 |
86 |
89 |
71 |
16 |
| Insurers |
6 |
93 |
87 |
88 |
80 |
14 |
| Genetics scientists |
0 |
96 |
96 |
82 |
63 |
12 |
| General public |
22 |
85 |
85 |
88 |
71 |
35 |
* These groups were chosen and surveyed by a variety of methods. See source for details.
Source:
- National Center for Genome Resources, National Survey of Public and Stakeholders Attitudes and Awareness of Genetic Issues (Washington: NCGR, 1996)
1994 - Macer Japan and Australia poll
- Survey population: 352 Japanese and 201 Australians
| How do you feel about scientists changing the genetic makeup of human cells to... |
Approve |
Don't approve |
Don't know | ||
| cure a usually fatal disease, such as cancer |
- |
- |
- | ||
| - Australia |
89 |
8 |
3 | ||
| - Japan |
83 |
5 |
12 | ||
| reduce the risk of a usually fatal disease later in life |
- |
- |
- | ||
| - Australia |
81 |
11 |
8 | ||
| - Japan |
75 |
6 |
19 | ||
| prevent/stop children from inheriting a usually fatal disease |
- |
- |
- | ||
| - Australia |
87 |
7 |
6 | ||
| - Japan |
80 |
4 |
16 | ||
|
prevent/stop children from inheriting a
usually nonfatal disease, such as diabetes |
- |
- |
- | ||
| - Australia |
79 |
13 |
8 | ||
| - Japan |
62 |
17 |
21 | ||
| improve the physical characteristics children would inherit |
- |
- |
- | ||
| - Australia |
28 |
63 |
9 | ||
| - Japan |
28 |
51 |
21 | ||
| improve the intelligence level children would inherit |
- |
- |
- | ||
| - Australia |
27 |
62 |
11 | ||
| - Japan |
26 |
54 |
20 | ||
| make people more ethical |
- |
- |
- | ||
| - Australia |
34 |
44 |
22 | ||
| - Japan |
24 |
53 |
23 | ||
Source:
- Darryl Macer, Bioethics for the People (Christchurch, NZ: Eubios Ethics Institute, 1994)
- Survey population: 500 Americans
- Date of survey: December 2, 1993
- Conducted by: Yankelovich Partners
- Margin of error: 4.5%
| Do you approve or disapprove of the use of genetic engineering to... |
Approve |
Disapprove |
Not sure |
| cure a disease |
79 |
16 |
5 |
| improve a person's physical appearance |
25 |
71 |
4 |
| improve a person's intelligence |
34 |
62 |
4 |
| establish embryo banks from which prospective parents could select a child with genetic characteristics they desire |
18 |
78 |
4 |
| make it possible for nations to produce large numbers of individuals with genetically desirable traits |
8 |
88 |
4 |
|
|
Good thing |
Bad thing |
Not sure |
| In general, do you think cloning is a good think or a bad thing to do? |
14 |
75 |
11 |
|
|
Yes, it is wrong |
Do not feel this way |
Not sure |
| Do you think cloning is morally wrong, or don't you think this way? |
58 |
31 |
11 |
|
|
Yes, against God's will |
Do not feel this way |
Not sure |
| Do you think cloning is against God's will, or don't you think this way? |
63 |
26 |
11 |
Source:
- Philip Elmer-Dewitt, "The Genetic Revolution: New technology enables us to improve on nature. How far should we go?" Time (Vol. 143, No. 2, January 17, 1994)
- Survey population: ~1000 Americans
- Conducted by: Harris Research
| How do you feel about scientists changing the makeup of human cells to... |
Approve |
Disapprove |
Don't Know | ||
| cure a usually fatal disease |
87 |
12 |
1 | ||
| reduce the risk of a usually fatal disease |
78 |
19 |
3 | ||
| prevent/stop children from inheriting a usually fatal disease |
84 |
13 |
3 | ||
|
prevent/stop children from inheriting a
usually nonfatal disease |
66 |
32 |
3 | ||
| improve the physical characteristics children would inherit |
43 |
54 |
3 | ||
| improve the intelligence level children would inherit |
42 |
55 |
3 | ||
Source:
- March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, Genetic Testing and Gene Therapy: National Survey Findings (White Plains, NY: March of Dimes, September 1992)
1992 - Macer Japan and New Zealand poll
- Survey population: 533 Japanese and 2034 New Zealanders
| Is genetic manipulation of human cells acceptable to you for any reason? |
Acceptable |
Unacceptable |
| - Japan |
26 |
74 |
| - New Zealand |
43 |
58 |
| Could genetic manipulation of human cells provide benefits for your country? |
No benefit |
Benefit |
| - Japan |
62 |
38 |
| - New Zealand |
52 |
48 |
| Could genetic manipulation of human cells present serious risks or hazards in your country? |
No risk |
Risk |
| - Japan |
17 |
83 |
| - New Zealand |
26 |
74 |
The Japanese were queried by a mailed questionnaire, which elicited a 26% response rate. Face-to-face interviews were used in New Zealand.
Source:
- Darryl R. J. Macer, "Public Acceptance of Human Gene
Therapy and Perceptions of Human Genetic Manipulation,"
Human Gene Therapy (Vol. 3, 1992) pp. 511-8
http://www.biol.tsukuba.ac.jp/~macer/Papers/HGT92.html
1987 - Office of Technology Assessment
|
|
Yes, it is wrong |
| On balance, do you feel that changing the genetic makeup of human cells is morally wrong, or not? |
42 |
|
|
Approve |
| How do you feel about scientists changing the makeup of human cells to improve the physical characteristics children would inherit? |
44 |
| How do you feel about scientists changing the makeup of human cells to cure a usually fatal disease |
84 |
Source:
- US Congress, Office of Technology Assessment. New Developments in Biotechnology—Background Paper: Public Perceptions of Biotechnology, OTA-BP-BA-45 (Washington: US Government Printing Office, 1987), as cited in National Center for Genome Resources, National Survey of Public and Stakeholders Attitudes and Awareness of Genetic Issues (Washington: NCGR, 1996)
More Information
Perspectives:
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