The British public has a high degree of confidence in the potential therapeutic value of genetic research. But it is also very concerned about the potential misuses of genetic information and lacks confidence in government rules intended to prevent such abuses.

A survey of 1000 British adults, commissioned by the UK Human Genetics Commission (HGC), found that 88% of those interviewed were confident that new genetic developments will bring cures for many diseases. Higher scores correlated with higher levels of knowledge about genetics, and overall 35% of respondents “agreed strongly”, and 53% “tended to agree” with this belief.

One third of respondents also agreed with the statement that “research on human genetics is tampering with nature and is therefore unethical”. Agreement with this statement was particularly strong among those holding religious beliefs (36%), women (37%), and members of the Asian community (59%).

More than three quarters (77%) of respondents said that they had too little information about the rules and regulations covering biological developments, and seven in ten had “little or no confidence” that such rules and regulations are able to keep pace with new research developments. Ironically, a desire for more information on regulations increased with levels of knowledge about genetics. Those with low levels of knowledge were more likely than others to say they already receive `the right amount' of information on such regulations.

Finally, almost three quarters said that even genetic information which had been gathered by commercial organizations “should be publicly owned and available to all for use at no charge”. Only 21% believed that such companies “should own the developments and be able to charge for its use”. Results of the survey can be found at http://www.hgc.gov.uk/business_publications_ morigeneticattitudes.pdf