Animal Biotechnology - UC Agriculture & Natural …Animal Biotechnology was best supported by people with: – Confidence in scientists – A graduate education – The best understanding

Animal Genomics and Biotechnology Education

Animal Biotechnology:

Where to from here

Alison Van Eenennaam, Ph.D.

Cooperative Extension Specialist Animal Biotechnology and Genomics

University of California, Davis

[email protected]

7/11/2007


The majority (56%) of Americans oppose scientific research into genetic modifications of animals.

http://pewagbiotech.org/research/2005update/2005summary.pdf

In a survey of New Jersey consumers, Hallman found that two-thirds of respondants disapproved of traditional animal crossbreeding techniques and

half found them “morally wrong”. Schilling, B. J., Hallman, W. K., Adelaja, A. O., and Marxen, L. J.2002. Consumer Knowledge of

Food Biotechnology: A Descriptive Study of U. S. Residents. Food Policy Institute, Cook College, Rutgers - The State University of New Jersey. 25p. http://www.foodpolicyinstitute.org/

“The public opposes animal

biotechnology..”



US Public Attitude Surveys

How much have you heard about animal biotechnology ? (IFIC, 2005)

http://ific.org/research/upload/2005BiotechSurvey.pdf

6

21

26

45

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

A LOT SOME A LITTLE NOTHING

%


What is Biotechnology ?

Biotechnology Technology based on biology. The application of science and engineering to living organisms.


Cloning 15 %

Faster Growth/Bigger Animals/More Meat, Milk, Eggs 11 %

Hormones 10 %

Nothing Specific 13 %

Genetic Engineering 6 %

Disease Resistance/Healthier Animals/Safer Food 5 %

Changes to Animal Feed 4 %

Better Quality Meat 5 %

Concerns about effects/Testing needed 4 %

Steroids 2 %

Testing on Animals/Raised in Labs 4 %

What is Fed to Animals/ How animals Fed 4 %

Breeding/AI 2 %

Mad Cow 3 %

Other 7 %

Don’t Know/Refused 27 %

What did you hear/read about animal biotechnology ?



Animal biotechnology

Artificial selection (breeding programs)

Artificial Insemination

Hormone use

Using DNA information for the marker-assisted selection of superior animals

Genomics

Cloning

Genetic engineering


US Public Attitude Surveys How much have you heard about specific animal biotechnologies ? (IFIC + PEW, 2005)


6

21

26

45

6

28

32 32

16

26

9

48

0

10

20

30

40

50

A LOT SOME A LITTLE NOTHING

%

Animal Biotechnology

Genetic Engineering

Cloning


Public Attitudes Towards Specific “Animal Biotechnologies” (IFIC, 2005)


53

39

15

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

GENOMICS GENETIC

ENGINEERING

CLONING

%

FAVORABLE

UNFAVORABLE


Summary – and a lesson for Animal Genomics

Biotechnology remains an abstract and unfamiliar concept that, in the absence of other information or knowledge, seems to evoke negative reactions.

People do distinguish between different animal biotechnologies, and “they are not all lumped together in the public mind despite the chaotic character of the information that most citizens receive”*.

Blurring distinctions or using euphemisms may yolk the fates of technologies differing in their social acceptability – pooled biotechnologies will tend to have a common fate.

* Fischhoff, B., & Fischhoff, I. (2001). Publics' opinions about biotechnologies. AgBioForum, 4 (3&4), 155-162. Available on the World Wide Web: http://www.agbioforum.org

http://www.agbioforum.org/


Suggested guidelines for “improving understanding” about

agricultural biotechnology


Nearly half of the people who approved of the use of “biotechnology” in plants did not support its use for animals.

Variables that had a positive and significant influence on public approval of plant biotechnology were not significant factors in approval of animal biotechnology:

– Young (< 35 years of age)

– College-education (4-year college degree)

– Attend religious services occasionally

– Moderate knowledge of science (5-7/10 on science quiz)

Animal Biotechnology was best supported by people with:

– Confidence in scientists

– A graduate education

– The best understanding of science (>7/10 on science quiz)

F. Hossain, B. Onyango, A. Adelaja, B. Schilling and W. Hallman Public Perceptions of Biotechnology and Acceptance of Genetically Modified Food (2002). http://www.foodpolicyinstitute.org/

Animal Biotechnology and Genomics Education

38

39

22

20

55

54

61

55

7

7

17

25

0 20 40 60 80 100

A lot

Some

A little

Nothing

Kn

ow

led

ge o

f T

ran

sg

en

ic A

nim

als

% In Favor or Opposed to Research into Genetically

Modifying Animals

Favor Oppose Don't Know


10/2005

6%

28%

32%

32%

The majority of Americans oppose scientific

research into genetic modifications of animals

- irrespective of self-assessed knowledge level


Of the Americans who are uncomfortable

or unsure about animal cloning; their

primary concern is:

5%

6%

6%

10%

13%

23%

36%

1%Other

Distrust producers of clones

No opinion

Fear of risks

The effect on animal species

Personally uncomfortable with it

Safety

Religious or ethical


10/2005


Commercialized products of animal biotechnology....

12/2004

http://www.glofish.com/default.asp

http://www.savingsandclone.com/index2.html


18%

53% 10%

9%

10%Not Sure

2. Science only

1. Morals / Ethics

and Science

1. Government regulators should include ethical and moral

considerations, in addition to scientific evaluation of risks and

benefits, when making regulatory decisions about cloning or

genetically modifying animals.

2. Though ethical and moral considerations are important,

government regulators should consider only scientific

evaluation of risks and benefits when making regulatory

decisions about cloning and genetically modifying animals.

27%

63%

Feel that way strongly 10%



GloFish™ – barred on ethical grounds in California - “just a pet”


“just a floral arrangement”


How to incorporate social and ethical

issues into regulatory decisions ?

American consumers (75%) and scientists (70%) agree that cloning and genetic engineering of animals raise some moral and ethical issues

However public is much less likely to approve (21-25%) of these technologies than scientists (60-68%)

How to reach a societal consensus on which set of values will ultimately be applied to decide the acceptable uses of animal biotechnology ?

Incorporation of “non-technological concerns” is the most difficult issue faced by animal biotechnology

Keystone Research Center (2004) – Biotechnology and ethics: a national survey of consumers and scientists. Report to the Biotechnology Industry Organization. KRC Research, Washington DC, 29pp.



http://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/animalbiotech

Alison Van Eenennaam, PhD Cooperative Extension Specialist Animal Genomics and Biotechnology Department of Animal Science 2113 Meyer Hall One Shields Avenue Davis, CA 95616 Phone: 530-752-7942 FAX: 530-752-0175 Email: [email protected]

Documents

Animal Biotechnology - UC Agriculture & Natural …Animal Biotechnology was best supported by people with: – Confidence in scientists – A graduate education – The best understanding