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From 2012.igem.org

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Contents 1 Survey 1.1 Background 1.2 Basic data 1.3 Questions 1.3.1 Evaluated questions 1.3.2 Answers 1.4 Conclusion

Survey

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Background

The survey was carried out by the [http://portal.mytum.de/jungeakademie/index_html/document_view?/ TUM young academy], which planned to install a [http://www.genial-info.de/ website] to inform the public about genetic engineering. They made an online questionnaire and stood in Munich for one day, with a print out version. All in all 1183 people participated, 979 online and 204 on the street, thereof 597 were male and 570 female. The problem is that, in this survey, the group of the age from 15-24 is drastically over represented with 70%, the reason could be that through the university project more students were reached.
This team allowed us to use their data for our project as well. As they had 33 questions, we chose the ones directly relied to genetic engineering, the ones dealing with the webpage they wanted to create we left out.

Basic data

• Participants: 1183
• Online participants: 979
• Street participants: 204
• Male: 597
• Female: 570
• Age: mainly between 15-24 (70%)

Questions

Evaluated questions

• How do you feel about genetic engineering in general?
• How good do you think is your knowledge about genetic engineering?
• Are you concerned about genetically modified food?
• Do you think genetic engineering is reasonable in medicine?
• Do you think genetic engineering is reasonable in farming?
• Do you think genetic engineering is reasonable in food?
• Do you think the commentatorship in Germany is neutral?
• Would you eat a genetically modified apple if it was healthier?
• Would you eat a genetically modified apple if it tasted better?

Answers

Conclusion

In contrary to our first impression, about half of the questioned people said that they have a "normal" or better amount of knowledge. In our former human practice events we often realized that the discussions are rather emotional than scientific. This difference could arise from the mostly younger people who participated. Because in Germany genetic engineering started to play a bigger role in schools and in the media, although as mentioned below, the media is not always neutral. The overall impression of genetically modified organisms is not that bad, but it needs to be differentiated where genetic engineering is used. Many people agree that it is appropriate to use it in medicine.
In contrast 633 people (food) and 573 people (farming) of 1183did not accept genetic engineering in food and agriculture. As already mentioned on our overview page people do not accept GMOs in their food. In Germany great skepticism persists. The fact that people (533) would not eat genetically modified apples even if they would taste similar, shows the low acceptance as well. If genetic engineering would be used for production of healthier aliment, the renunciation decreases.

The advantages of green biotechnology are not present in people's minds and many people think that they are not informed impartial. This leads to a negative point of view and therefore neutral reporting is essential.

All in all red biotechnology is widely accepted in Germany whereas green biotechnology is discussed controversial. Additionally some Germans think that media does not report objective about GMOs. Furthermore people wish that genetic engineering plays a bigger role in politics.