Cummings Christopher, Landreville Kristen D, Kuzma Jennifer
Genetic Engineering and Society Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States.
United States Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC, United States.
Front Public Health. 2024 Dec 11;12:1477377. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1477377. eCollection 2024.
This paper presents the first representative survey of U.S. adults' opinions on microbiome engineering within the built environment, revealing public awareness, perceived benefits and risks, and attitudes toward genetically engineered microbiomes. Using data from a cross-sectional survey of 1,000 nationally representative U.S. residents over 18 years of age, we examined demographic and cultural factors influencing public sentiment. Results indicate that younger generations report higher knowledge levels, optimism, and perceived benefits of microbiome engineering, while older generations exhibit more caution and concern about risks. Political affiliation, education level, and trust in science also shape public attitudes, with Democrats, college-educated individuals, and those with higher trust in science more likely to view microbiome engineering positively. Notably, nearly half of respondents across demographic groups remain uncertain about the technology's benefits and risks, and a majority of participants support government oversight to ensure ethical and responsible development. These insights provide a foundation for policymakers and researchers to foster informed public engagement and guide responsible innovation in microbiome engineering for built environments.
本文首次对美国成年人对建筑环境中微生物组工程的看法进行了代表性调查，揭示了公众意识、感知到的益处和风险，以及对基因工程微生物组的态度。利用对1000名18岁以上具有全国代表性的美国居民进行的横断面调查数据，我们研究了影响公众情绪的人口统计学和文化因素。结果表明，年轻一代对微生物组工程的知识水平、乐观态度和感知到的益处更高，而年长一代对风险表现出更多的谨慎和担忧。政治派别、教育水平和对科学的信任也塑造了公众态度，民主党人、受过大学教育的人以及对科学信任度较高的人更有可能对微生物组工程持积极看法。值得注意的是，各人口群体中近一半的受访者对该技术的益处和风险仍不确定，大多数参与者支持政府监督以确保道德和负责任的发展。这些见解为政策制定者和研究人员促进明智的公众参与以及指导建筑环境微生物组工程的负责任创新奠定了基础。
