Team:WHU-China/Human Practice

From 2012.igem.org

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Outline

Our idea this year is strongly associated with genetically modified food (GM food) and bacterial product. Considering the unknown attitudes of people toward consuming GM food and bacteria, we thought doing a research regarding to these two issues is essential.

Therefore, we conducted a survey to give us a clue about how people treat with them. Prior to the cross-sectional study, we chose a sample of 199 students as a pilot. Refining our questionnaire and methods of analysis after the pilot, we conducted the cross-sectional study in a larger scale.

The result of the study is quite surprising. Most individual hold negative attitude toward GM food but they didn't know why. However, the perspective of students on bacteria is a relief. Most people are okay with consuming bacteria; what's more, a half of people who did not want to eat bacteria changed their mind after read the example of yogurt.

With the general results above, we decided to do a campaign which clarifies some of the points or confusions presented in the questionnaires. Making the public more clear about GM food is the best thing we can do in this study.

We explained to people what is GM food and why it is potentially harmful. Secondly, we told them why the harm of GM food cannot be seen or proved. By interacting and answering questions from the public, we thought this section of human practice not only familiarized students with iGEM but gave them a scientific perception to look upon safety issues.