This page offers comparisons of survey results for three technologies: reproductive cloning, research cloning, and inheritable genetic modification. Clearly, the results vary due to the wording of the questions, populations surveyed, and dates. However, these summaries can reveal some consistent sentiments, as well as how people react to particular words and phrases. Some of the questions have been slightly paraphrased but the verbatin text of the questions, and complete survey reports, can be found by clicking on the links in the 'Conductor' column. Not all results were readily available, and are indicated by a hyphen.
Inheritable
genetic modification
|
Date |
Population |
Conductor |
Question |
Approve of cloning |
Disapprove of cloning |
|
May 2002 |
Americans |
Should scientists be allowed to clone
humans? |
11 |
85 | |
|
May 2002 |
Americans |
Do you favor or oppose cloning that is
designed specifically to result in the birth of a human
being? |
8 |
90 | |
|
May 2002 |
Americans |
Is it morally acceptable or morally wrong to
clone humans? |
7 |
90 | |
|
Feb / Mar 2002 |
Americans |
Do you favor or oppose scientific
experimentation on the cloning of human beings? |
17 |
77 | |
|
Feb 2002 |
Americans |
Do you think it is acceptable to use cloning
to reproduce humans ? |
7 |
89 | |
|
Nov / Dec 2001 |
Americans |
Choose a preferred policy. |
21 |
72 | |
|
Nov 2001 |
Americans |
Do you approve or disapprove of cloning that
is designed specifically to result in the birth of a human
being? |
9 |
88 | |
|
Aug 2001 |
Americans |
Do you think it should be legal or illegal
to clone humans in the United States? |
11 |
87 | |
|
July 2001 |
Americans |
Regarding cloning human beings, are you
opposed or supportive? |
8 |
90 | |
|
Feb 2001 |
Americans |
Should all cloning research be
banned? |
7 |
90 | |
|
Feb 2001 |
Americans |
Do you think scientists should be allowed to
clone human beings or don't you think so? |
10 |
88 | |
|
March 2000 |
Canadians |
Are you opposed to scientists making a
genetically identical copy of a human being? |
- |
90 | |
|
Feb 1998 |
Canadians |
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 | |
|
1997 |
UK |
Human cloning should never be allowed and
all research should be stopped, or Cloning should be allowed
when it becomes possible. |
4 |
72 | |
|
Dec 1993 |
Americans |
In general, do you think cloning is a good
thing or a bad thing to do? |
14 |
75 |
|
Date |
Population |
Conductor |
Question |
Approve of cloning |
Disapprove of cloning |
|
May 2002 |
Americans |
Do you favor or oppose cloning of human
embryos for use in medical research? |
34 |
61 | |
|
April 2002 |
Americans |
Do you think it is wrong to create human
embryos for medical research? |
- |
59 | |
|
April 2002 |
Americans |
Favor the government allowing scientists to
do therapeutic cloning research to produce stem cells for
treating life-threatening diseases |
68 |
26 | |
|
April 2002 |
Americans |
Do you agree with Bush's position? |
29 |
63 | |
|
April 2002 |
Americans |
Agree with person 1 vs. 2. |
26 |
59 | |
|
Nov / Dec 2001 |
Americans |
Choose a preferred policy. |
60 |
33 | |
|
Nov 2001 |
Americans |
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 | |
|
Aug 2001 |
Americans |
Do you think human cloning for medical
treatments should be legal or illegal in the United
States? |
33 |
63 | |
|
July 2001 |
Americans |
Should all cloning research be
banned? |
- |
40 | |
|
Aug 1999 |
UK |
Do you support or oppose cloning and growing
human cells? |
28 |
60 | |
|
Feb 1998 |
Canadians |
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 |
Inheritable genetic modification
|
Date |
Population |
Conductor |
Question |
Approve of IGM |
Disapprove of IGM |
|
Feb 2001 |
Americans |
Does creating genetically superior human
beings justify creating a human clone or don't you think
so? |
6 |
92 | |
|
Fall 2000 |
Scots |
Are opposed to the creation of "designer
babies" for any reason other than to stop hereditary
illnesses. |
- |
~90 | |
|
Fall 2000 |
Scots |
are prepared to accept "born-to-order"
babies for medical reasons |
42 |
- | |
|
March 2000 |
Canadians |
Find genetic engineering to change the eye
colour or other physical features of an unborn child
unacceptable. |
- |
74 | |
|
March 2000 |
Canadians |
Find it acceptable for scientists to use
biotechnology to cure an inherited medical condition or to
decrease the risk of illness. |
> 50 |
- | |
|
1996 |
Americans |
How do you feel about scientists changing
the makeup of human cells to prevent/stop children from
inheriting a usually nonfatal disease? |
72 |
- | |
|
1996 |
Americans |
How do you feel about scientists changing
the makeup of human cells to improve the physical
characteristics children would inherit? |
35 |
- | |
|
1994 |
Japanese |
How do you feel about scientists changing
the makeup of human cells to prevent/stop children from
inheriting a usually nonfatal disease? |
62 |
- | |
|
1994 |
Japanese |
How do you feel about scientists changing
the makeup of human cells to improve the physical
characteristics children would inherit? |
28 |
- | |
|
1994 |
Australians |
How do you feel about scientists changing
the makeup of human cells to prevent/stop children from
inheriting a usually nonfatal disease? |
79 |
- | |
|
1994 |
Australians |
How do you feel about scientists changing
the makeup of human cells to improve the physical
characteristics children would inherit? |
28 |
- | |
|
Dec 1993 |
Americans |
Do you approve or disapprove of the use of
genetic engineering to make it possible for nations to produce
large numbers of individuals with genetically desirable
traits? |
8 |
88 | |
|
1992 |
Americans |
How do you feel about scientists changing
the makeup of human cells to prevent/stop children from
inheriting a usually nonfatal disease? |
66 |
32 | |
|
1992 |
Americans |
How do you feel about scientists changing
the makeup of human cells to improve the physical
characteristics children would inherit? |
43 |
54 | |
|
1987 |
Americans |
How do you feel about scientists changing
the makeup of human cells to improve the physical
characteristics children would inherit? |
44 |
- |
More Information
Perspectives:
Explore various communities' concerns regarding human genetic
technologies
Policies:
Read about existing and potential regulations
Technologies:
Learn the basic science and consider arguments for and against
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