THE POLLS—TRENDS
PUBLIC OPINION ABOUT STEM CELL RESEARCH AND
HUMAN CLONING
MATTHEW C. NISBET
Few science and technology–related issues have sparked as much survey
attention as the public controversy over human embryonic stem cell research
and therapeutic cloning. Interest groups, advocates, and policymakers on both
sides of the debate have taken advantage of poll results to support their claims
that the public backs their preferred policy outcomes, and the competing
camps have staged ongoing public communication campaigns in an effort to
shape public opinion. Journalists have also highlighted the results of these
surveys, using poll figures to complement their coverage of who is ahead
and who is behind in the competition to decide stem cell–and cloning-related
policy (Nisbet, Brossard, and Kroepsch 2003).
The study of survey trends detailing public responses to genetic engineering
and biotechnology is not new. For example, Singer, Corning, and Lamias
(1998) reviewed poll trends specific to genetic testing, gene therapy, and early
public reactions to animal and human reproductive cloning. Shanahan,
Scheufele, and Lee (2001) examined trends related to agricultural biotechnology, and the National Science Foundation’s Science and Engineering Indicators surveys have tracked public opinion about genetic engineering (broadly
defined) since the 1980s (for an overview, see Miller and Kimmel 2001).
These previous analyses, however, have not focused specifically on surveys
measuring public reactions either to stem cell or therapeutic cloning research.
Background
“Stem cells” are utility and repair units of the body that serve a central function in the maintenance and regeneration of organs and tissues throughout life.
Adult stem cells, derived mostly from bone marrow and umbilical cord blood,
have been used in research since the 1960s, with applications focused primarily on treatments for cancer. Stem cells from human embryos were not
MATTHEW C. NISBET is an assistant professor in the School of Communication at The Ohio State
University. Address correspondence to the author; e-mail: [email protected].
Public Opinion Quarterly, Vol. 68 No. 1 Pp. 131–154, © American Association for Public Opinion Research 2004; all rights reserved.
DOI:10.1093 / poq / nfh009
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Matthew C. Nisbet
isolated for the first time until 1998. Unlike their adult tissue counterparts,
embryonic stem cells are “undifferentiated,” meaning these repair units of the
human body have yet to be programmed to be specific to the brain, the skin,
the heart, the lungs, or other bodily tissues. Research on embryonic stem cells
is therefore considered by many scientists to be instrumental in developing a
diverse supply of tissues to be used in the treatment of a variety of health
problems including AIDS, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, spinal cord
injuries, and heart disease (Johnson 2001).
The prized potential of embryonic stem cells has led to urgent pleas from
the scientific community and research advocates for U.S. government funding.
Scientists argue that they have been prevented from making significant
advances in the treatment of health problems because of a long-standing moratorium on using cells from human embryos in federally funded projects, limiting work to private and for-profit ventures (Rowley et al. 2002). Opponents
of research counter that the derivation of stem cells from human embryos
requires the embryos’ destruction, and therefore it would be morally wrong
for the government to support the research (National Bioethics Advisory
Committee [NBAC] 1999).
In July and August 2001 the controversy over human embryonic stem cell
research reached the top of the U.S. political agenda. On August 9, President
George W. Bush, in his first nationally televised address, announced a compromise solution that would limit federal funding to research that used only existing
stem cell lines. As outlined by the Bush decision, funding could only move forward if it meant that new human embryos would not be destroyed. Despite
pressing domestic and international political concerns, the issue remained on the
political agenda in late 2001 as pro-research advocates contested the suitability
of the allocated stem cell lines and as the controversy moved into a new stage
when it was linked to the unresolved matter of human cloning regulation.
The beginning of the redefinition of the stem cell issue went relatively
unnoticed in July 2001 as the House passed a ban (pending Senate approval)
of both reproductive and therapeutic cloning (Weiss and Elperin 2001). The
latter procedure was closely linked to stem cell research, as one of its central
applications involves the creation of cloned embryos for use in the extraction
of stem cells. Despite decisive House approval of a comprehensive ban on
cloning, to date there has been little or no movement on legislation in the
Senate, as neither side appears to have the votes needed for passage (Dewar
2002). One bipartisan coalition of senators has proposed legislation that
would ban reproductive cloning but would allow therapeutic cloning. Another
bipartisan coalition of senators has proposed a total ban similar to the House
legislation (Weiss 2002). Policy conflict has not been limited to the federal
level, as legislation related to stem cell research and/or cloning has been
passed in more than a dozen states (Stolberg 2002). As the policy deadlock
continues, the issue has been accompanied by a sizable amount of sensationalism. In one leading example, the year 2002 ended with a clone hoax
Poll Trends: Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning
133
perpetrated by Clonaid, a company affiliated with the Raëlian religion (Grady
and Pear 2002). In addition, press reports have chronicled a handful of maverick fertility scientists and doctors who claim to be making progress toward the
birth of a human clone (Nerlich and Clarke 2003).
Public Attention to Stem Cell Research
Given that significant media attention to the stem cell issue did not occur until
the summer of 2001 (Nisbet 2003; Nisbet, Brossard, and Kroepsch 2003), it is
not surprising that when surveyed in the fall of 2000, only 20 percent of
Americans reported following the issue either “very closely” or “fairly
closely.” Even in early July 2001, only a month before Bush’s nationally televised address, the proportion of Americans following the issue had only
increased to 38 percent. By early August, however, this number had risen to
slightly more than a majority of respondents, and polls indicate that in the
days after Bush’s announcement, between 40 percent and 60 percent of
respondents reported that they were following the issue at least somewhat
closely. Public attention to the issue remained steady even several weeks after
the terrorist attacks of September 11 (table 1).
In an alternative measure of public awareness, 25 percent of Americans
reported that they had either seen, read, or heard “a lot” about the issue in the
weeks immediately following the Bush decision (table 2). A few months later,
in February 2002, this figure remained relatively stable at 27 percent, though a
precise trend is difficult to observe because of slightly different question
wording. However, in September 2002, a little more than a year after Bush’s
decision, only 13 percent of respondents reported having seen, read, or heard
“a lot” about the issue, whereas 46 percent of respondents reported “not
much” or “nothing at all.” These percentages suggest that overall public attention to the issue had declined from 2001 levels, with this drop in public attention paralleling a drop in media attention.
In terms of issue importance, in the summer of 2001 during the peak of the
debate, more than 60 percent of respondents reported that the issue was either
“very important” or “somewhat important” to them (table 3). Indeed, roughly
a third of Americans reported that they had tuned in for Bush’s August 9 televised address (table 4). Bush’s televised speech and the sizable audience
should not be overlooked in terms of its potential significance for public
understanding of the issue. At least one historian viewed Bush’s speech as
remarkable for a presidential address since Bush spent an unusual amount of
time outlining the background of the issue and the competing points of view
that fueled the controversy (Cmiel 2001).
Relative to indicators of public attention to the issue of cloning, the available
survey data is fairly nonspecific to therapeutic cloning applications; instead, survey items tracked public attention to reproductive cloning starting with the 1997
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Matthew C. Nisbet
announcement of the cloned sheep named Dolly. Through the end of 1998,
roughly half of respondents reported following developments related to cloning
or having an interest in the issue, with the exception of the announcement of
cloned mice by scientists in Hawaii. However, despite the sensationalism surrounding the human cloning claims announced by the Raëlians during Christmas week of 2002, less than half of respondents reported that they were
following the issue either “very closely,” or “fairly closely.” (table 5)1
Public Understanding of Research and Regulation
In the early stages of the controversy, given the low levels of media attention
to the issue, the public should not be faulted for a lack of knowledge relative
to the specifics of the emerging policy debate. For example, when asked in the
fall of 2000, only 17 percent of respondents reported that they knew that the
National Institutes of Health (NIH) had recently announced that the agency
would begin accepting applications for federal funding of embryonic stem cell
research, and close to two-thirds of respondents either reported “don’t know”
or refused the question (table 6). (George W. Bush put the NIH decision on
hold shortly after taking office in early 2001.)
Yet by August 2001, despite considerable media coverage and despite an
increase in self-reported attention to the issue, the public still scored relatively
low in terms of knowledge. For example, although in one August 10–12 poll,
60 percent of respondents reported having a “good understanding” of the issue
(table 7), a few weeks later only 28 percent of respondents could correctly
identify the criteria under which Bush’s decision would allow a stem cell line
to be eligible for funding (table 8). A majority of respondents, however, were
at least familiar with the crux of the debate, naming the destruction of human
embryos as the major reason for the controversy (table 9). However, a year
later, in September 2002, when asked in an open-ended question to answer
what kinds of stem cells came to mind when thinking about stem cell therapy,
more than half answered “don’t know,” and only 17 percent answered embryonic stem cells (table 10).
Specific to public knowledge of cloning, the available survey items are
somewhat limited. As early as 1986, 69 percent of the public indicated that
they understood the meaning of the term “cloning.” However, the recent
1. Two other polls during this time period included alternative measures of awareness. A July
1997 ABC News poll queried respondents with “I want to ask about some specific areas of
science. For each, please tell me if you are very interested in news about that subject, somewhat
interested, somewhat uninterested, or very uninterested. . . . Cloning.” In this case, 18 percent
indicated they were very interested, 33 percent somewhat interested, 20 percent somewhat
uninterested, and 28 percent very uninterested (N = 505). A January 1998 CBS News poll asked
respondents, “How much have you heard or read about the successful cloning last year by
Scottish scientists of a sheep named Dolly? Have you heard or read a lot, some, not much, or
nothing at all?” In response to this poll question, 24 percent indicated a lot, 46 percent some,
16 percent not too closely, and 14 percent not at all closely.
Poll Trends: Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning
135
debate whether to ban all forms of cloning, or to allow cloning only for medical research purposes appears to have complicated matters for the public. In
2002, for example, a VCU Life Sciences survey indicated that only 41 percent
of respondents reported they were either “very clear” or “somewhat clear” on
the differences between “reproductive” and “therapeutic” cloning procedures.
In terms of knowledge of cloning policy, as of October 2002, according to a
survey conducted by The Genetics and Public Policy Center, more than half of
respondents incorrectly assumed that the government already regulated the
cloning of humans.
Moral Dimensions of Embryonic Stem Cell Research
As previously mentioned, much of the opposition to embryonic stem cell
research from religious and conservative elites derives from the necessary
destruction of human embryos. At the base of this elite opposition are the beliefs
that a human embryo is equivalent to a human life and that embryos are deserving of the same protections as other human beings. To destroy embryos would
therefore be morally wrong, essentially equivalent to murder (NBAC 1999).
Where does the public weigh in on this matter? Previous surveys that have asked
Americans about when life begins indicate that a slight majority of respondents
have consistently indicated that life begins at “conception” (table 11).
Important to note is a recent 2003 Newsweek poll (table 12). This is the lone
poll to explore more carefully the public’s definition of “conception,” distinguishing in response categories between a fertilized egg and an embryo.
Given this additional precision in measurement, the important implication for
embryonic stem cell research is that a combined 58 percent of the public
appears to believe that life begins either at the earliest stage of a fertilized egg
or as an embryo.
Given this outlook on when life begins, it would not be surprising to find
that embryonic stem cell research might be morally problematic for many
respondents. In July 2001, 54 percent of respondents agreed that embryonic
stem cell research was morally wrong, but among those same respondents an
ambivalent majority said that although the research may be morally wrong, it
might also still be necessary. As of early August 2001, this finding remained
virtually unchanged, but by May 2002, and later in May 2003, the percentage
regarding embryonic stem cell research as morally wrong was 39 percent and
38 percent, respectively (tables 13a, 13b).
There is also evidence that the type of embryo used in research matters to
respondents (tables 14a, 14b). The first poll listed in table 14a asked specifically
about research using stem cells obtained from “extra embryos” created at
fertility clinics. From June 2001 to just after the Bush decision in August
2001, polls indicate that a strong majority of Americans supported research
using “extra” embryos, and this support appears to have increased slightly
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Matthew C. Nisbet
from June to just after the Bush decision (table 14a). Differences in question
wording should be noted. Second, when the source of the embryos is left
unspecified, it is apparent that public support drops, as indicated in the 2001
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) poll (table 14b). In this particular
case only 48 percent of respondents indicated that they either “strongly
favored” or “somewhat favored” the research. Importantly, when the same
exact question was asked a year later in September 2002, there appears to
have been a drop in public support over the twelve-month period, with only
35 percent of respondents indicating that they favored research. Yet as of
September 2003, when VCU asked the same question of respondents again,
support appears to have climbed back to approximately the level in 2001.
Additional evidence that opinion varies based on the type of embryo used
as a source for stem cells is provided by the survey results detailed in tables
15a and 15b. In the May 2001 poll that asked about unspecified embryos (but
mentioned possible medical benefits of research) (table 15a), 58 percent of
respondents indicated that research should be allowed. Alternatively, the
Gallup and Harris Interactive polls—conducted within days of each other in
July—showed strikingly different results. In the Gallup poll, only 38 percent
of respondents indicated that research should be allowed using embryos
created specifically for research purposes. The Harris poll asked specifically
about extra embryos left over from fertilization and found support to be much
higher at 61 percent (table 15b). This suggests that public support for research
depends on the type of embryo used, with generalized public support greatest
for “discarded” or “extra embryos.”
The importance of how prospective research is framed is illustrated by the
first two polls detailed in table 16, the first sponsored by the Juvenile Diabetes
Research Foundation (JDRF) and the second by the National Council of Catholic Bishops (NCCB). Both poll items present strong examples of just how
sensitive respondents may be to question-wording effects, especially when
public attention to an issue is relatively low. The JDRF poll mentions as the
source of stem cells extra embryos “donated to research” and then includes as
background information a list of eight high-profile diseases or injuries for
which stem cell research might provide “cures.” Not surprisingly, public support for funding is measured at 65 percent. In the NCCB poll, respondents are
told, “Congress is considering whether to provide funding for experiments
using stem cells from human embryos. The live embryos would be destroyed
in their first week of development to obtain these cells.” The respondents are
then asked, “Do you support or favor using your federal tax dollars for such
experiments?” (emphasis added). Given this information, 70 percent of
respondents voiced their opposition to funding.
Across other polls taken in 2001 and featured in table 16, public support
appears highest for funding of stem cell research that uses either adult cells
(68 percent) or extra embryos (greater than 50 percent support across all
polls). Public support for funding is lowest, by far, for stem cell research that
Poll Trends: Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning
137
uses cloned embryos as sources (28 percent). Important to note is that in the
July 2001 Gallup poll, when respondents were prompted with the response
categories “Do you think the federal government should or should not fund
this type of research, or don’t you know enough to say?” more than half of the
respondents chose the “don’t know enough to say” response. Considering
possible changes in support for funding between 2001 and 2002, the limited
number of available measures makes a determination somewhat difficult. The
lone 2002 poll asking about support for funding is nonspecific to the embryo
source and lacks any background information in the question. This poll registers support at 43 percent but includes a strong 18 percent “don’t know.”
The surveys taken in the days and weeks after Bush’s August 9, 2001,
announcement indicate that the president’s decision appears to have been
received favorably by a majority of Americans, as the polls were fairly consistent in showing between 50 percent and 60 percent support (table 17). This
level of support is somewhat surprising given that many scientists, proresearch advocates, and news organizations publicly questioned and criticized
the suitability of the existing stem cell lines outlined by Bush.
Reproductive and Therapeutic Cloning
As previously described, highly relevant to the issue of federal funding for
embryonic stem cell research has been the debate over regulation of reproductive and therapeutic cloning. Public opinion is fairly clear when it comes to
support for reproductive cloning. (Here, in order to categorize the questions, a
strict definition of the term is adopted from the 2002 report of the President’s
Council on Bioethics, with reproductive cloning, or “cloning-to-producechildren,” including all cloning technology designed to ultimately result in the
birth of a child, no matter the stated reason or justification for such a procedure.) As table 18 outlines, in polls taken between 1993 and 2002, roughly 75
percent or more of respondents have consistently indicated—across a wide
variety of stated purposes—that they disapprove of reproductive cloning. The
few exceptions include screening for abnormalities in embryos (52 percent
disapproved in 1993), cloning of embryos for infertility treatment (63 percent
disapproved in 1998), and cloning to produce copies of humans for organs to
save others (68 percent disapproved in 2001). Still, in all of these examples, a
majority of Americans disapprove of the procedure.
Since the Dolly announcement of early 1997, more than 80 percent of
Americans have consistently answered that reproductive cloning should not
be allowed or should be illegal (tables 19a, 19b), with one exception in a
Beliefnet poll in August 2001, in which opposition to cloning was less.
Still, when the public was asked if they would favor or oppose either an
“outright ban on the cloning of human beings” or “a law that would prohibit
the cloning of human beings,” subtle differences appeared (tables 20a, 20b).
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Matthew C. Nisbet
In this case, starting in early 1998 and into the spring of 2002, only a slight
majority of Americans favored either an outright ban or a law that would
prohibit cloning, suggesting that the public may be somewhat hesitant about
backing legislation that completely closes the door on any and all cloningrelated research. In fact, when Gallup asked in March 2003, “would you favor
or oppose a law that would prohibit the cloning of human beings, or are you
unsure?” (emphasis added), a quarter of respondents answered that they were
not entirely certain about the matter (table 20b).
In contrast, however, a slight majority of Americans approve of cloning that
is not designed specifically to result in the birth of a human, but is designed to
aid in medical research into the treatment of diseases or for the purposes of
cloning organs and adult cells (table 21). This slight majority support remains
steady between late 2001 through September 2002. The public, however,
appears to assert reservations when asked specifically about the cloning of
embryos for medical research, with majorities voicing their disapproval in
May and September 2002. Additionally, when asked specifically in early 2003
about legislation that would allow cloning for “laboratory research” but would
ban reproductive cloning, a little more than a third of respondents indicated
support for only a partial ban, whereas 40–60 percent of respondents indicated
their support for a total ban (table 22).
Conclusion
The controversy over human embryonic stem cell research and therapeutic
cloning remains unresolved, and the issue may mark a new era of divisive and
deadlocked “biopolitics.” What the review of the polls makes clear is that
public attention was captured by this emerging conflict during the summer of
2001 but has waned since, as media coverage has subsided, and many other
competing issues have come to dominate the political and media agenda.
Despite Americans’ elevated attention to the issue in 2001, however, it
appears that the public remains in the dark about the science and the policy
driving the controversy. Despite limited knowledge about the specifics of the
issue, the public appears to have strong reservations about research that
destroys embryos, preferring that if the research must move forward, scientists
make use of either extra embryos left over from in vitro clinics, or adult cells.
Additionally, evidence indicates that question wording in surveys can have
strong effects on the public’s stated response to these volatile issues. On
the matter of cloning, the public is strongly opposed to reproductive cloning,
but resolve softens when it comes to medical applications, with about a third
of Americans supporting this research, while a substantial proportion of
Americans remain unsure about the matter. In all, the analysis points to an
important role for the media in shaping future public judgments of stem cell
research and human cloning. Evidence of strong question wording effects,
Poll Trends: Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning
139
combined with the findings relative to low levels of public knowledge, suggest that the public may be highly susceptible to influence by changes in
media attention and media characterization of the issue.
Appendix
Data Sources and Abbreviations
Many of the survey questions and results cited in this report were located using the
public opinion online search engine (“Polls and Surveys”) of Lexis-Nexis and the
Kaiser Health Poll Archive, both provided by the Roper Center for Public Opinion.
Keywords such as “stem cell,” “cloning,” “clone,” or “conception,” or “life begin”
were used for the search. Further polls were retrieved from the data archives of
“pollingreport.com” or through a Web search. Most of the surveys cited are based on
national adult samples with sample size of approximately one thousand or more, with
exceptions noted. The questions cited were drawn from surveys conducted by the following survey organizations, news organizations, policy centers, or advocacy groups:
ABC: ABC News
ABC/Post: ABC News with Washington Post
Alliance for Aging Research: Survey conducted by Belden, Russonello, and Stewart.
Beliefnet: Beliefnet with ABC News
Center: The Genetics and Public Policy Center, Washington, DC. The center is part
of the Phoebe R. Berman Bioethics Institute at Johns Hopkins University and is
funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts. The survey was conducted by Princeton Data
Source, LLC.
Gallup: Gallup Organization with CNN and USA Today
Harris: Louis Harris and Associates
HarrisIT: Harris Interactive
Ipsos: Ipsos-Reid
JDRF: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Survey conducted by Opinion
Research Corporation International.
Kaiser: Henry J. Kaiser Foundation, Harvard School of Public Health. Survey conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates.
LA Times: Los Angeles Times
NBC/WSJ: NBC News with Wall Street Journal. Survey conducted by Hart and
Tecter Research Companies.
NCCB: National Council of Catholic Bishops. Survey conducted by International
Communications Research.
Newsweek: Newsweek magazine. Survey conducted by Princeton Survey Research
Associates.
PewPress: Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. Survey conducted by
Princeton Survey Research Associates.
PewRel: Pew Research Center, Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. Survey
conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates.
Roper: Roper Organization
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Matthew C. Nisbet
VCU: Virgina Commonwealth University Life Sciences Survey. Survey conducted
by VCU Center for Public Policy.
Yank.: Yankelovich Partners Poll Inc.
Public Attention to Stem Cell Research
1. I’m going to read you a list of some stories covered by news organizations in the last
month or so. As I read each one, tell me if you happened to follow this news story very
closely, fairly closely, not too closely, or not at all closely. How closely did you follow this
story? . . . Government decision about the use of federal funding for stem cell research.
Kaiser
9/00
(%)
Very closely
Fairly closely
Not too closely
Not at all closely
Don’t know/refused
N
6
14
19
56
5
949
Gallupa
7/10–
7/11/01
(%)
9
29
28
32
2
998
Gallupa
8/3–
8/5/01
(%)
18
37
22
23
*
1,017
Gallupa
8/10–
8/12/01
(%)
12
45
23
20
NA
1,017
Ipsosb
8/10–
8/12/01
(%)
13
38
27
12
10
1,000
Kaiser c
9/28–
10/1/01
(%)
21
30
20
27
2
1,001
NOTE.—* = less than .5 percent; NA = not asked.
a
As you may know, the federal government is considering whether to fund certain kinds of
medical research known as “stem cell research.” . . . How closely have you followed the debate
about government funding of stem cell research—very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely,
or not closely at all?
b
How closely have you followed the issue of federal funding of stem cell research? Have you
followed this issue extremely closely, somewhat closely, only a little, or not at all? If you have
never heard of stem cell research, please just say so.
c
Now I’m going to read you a list of some stories covered by news organizations in the last
month or so. As I read each one, tell me if you happened to follow this news story very closely,
fairly closely, not too closely, or not at all closely. How closely did you follow this story? . . . The
discussion of stem cell lines eligible for research with federal funding.
2. How much have you seen, read, or heard about medical research involving embryonic
stem cells—a lot, a little, not much, or nothing at all?
A lot
A little
Not much
Nothing at all
Don’t know/refused
N
VCU
8/23–9/2/01
(%)
25
44
19
10
1
1,122
PewRela
2/25–3/10/02
(%)
27
52
20
1
2,002
VCU
9/4–9/16/02
(%)
13
40
26
20
1
1,000
a
As you may know, the federal government has debated whether to fund certain kinds of medical research known as “stem cell research.” How much have you heard about this? A lot, a little,
or nothing at all?
Poll Trends: Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning
141
3. As you may know, the federal government is considering whether to fund certain
kinds of medical research known as “stem cell research.” . . . How important is the issue
of stem cell research to you—very important, somewhat important, not too important,
or not at all important?
Very important
Somewhat important
Not too important
Not at all important
No opinion
N
Gallup
8/3–8/5/01
(%)
25
37
21
12
5
1,017
Gallup
8/10–8/12/01
(%)
36
42
13
8
1
1,017
4. As you may know, President (George W.) Bush gave a speech tonight (August 9,
2001) on stem cell research, and he announced that he would allow the government to
fund research using stem cells that have been created in the past in a process that
destroyed human embryos. The government will not fund stem cell research that would
destroy additional embryos in the future . . . Did you happen to watch any of Bush’s
speech on stem cell research tonight, or not?
Yes, watched
No
No opinion
N
Gallup
8/09/01
(%)
32
66
2
581
Gallupa
8/10–8/12/01
(%)
45
55
<.5
1,017
a
As you may know, President [George W.] Bush gave a
speech Thursday night [August 9, 2001] on stem cell research,
and he announced that he would allow the government to fund
research using stem cells that have been created in the past in a
process that destroyed human embryos. The government will not
fund stem cell research that would destroy additional embryos in
the future . . . Did you happen to watch any of Bush’s speech on
stem cell research Thursday night, or not?
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Matthew C. Nisbet
5. I will read a list of some stories covered by news organizations in the past month. As
I read each item, tell me if you happened to follow this news story very closely, fairly
closely, not too closely, or not at all closely? . . . The cloning of a sheep by a Scottish
biologist.
Specific event
Very closely
Fairly closely
Not too closely
Not at all closely
Don’t know/refused
N
PewPress
3/97
(%)
Dolly
PewPressa
1/98
(%)
Richard Seed
PewPressb
8/98
(%)
Mice
PewPressc
1/03
(%)
Raëlian claim
17
33
26
23
1
1,206
21
29
24
26
<.5
1,218
6
15
24
52
3
1,189
14
30
30
24
2
1,218
a
I will read a list of some stories covered by news organizations this past month. As I read each
item, tell me if you happened to follow this news story very closely, fairly closely, not too closely,
or not at all closely . . . Plans by a Chicago scientist [Richard Seed] to open a clinic for cloning
people.
b
I will read a list of some stories covered by news organizations this past month. As I read each
item, tell me if you happened to follow this news story very closely, fairly closely, not too closely,
or not at all closely . . . The cloning of mice by scientists in Hawaii.
c
Now I will read a list of some stories covered by news organizations this past month. As I read
each item, tell me if you happened to follow this news story very closely, fairly closely, not too
closely, or not at all closely? . . . A religious group [Raëlians] claiming to have successfully
cloned a human being.
Public Understanding of Research and Regulation
6. I have a few more questions about some of the news stories that I just mentioned. If
you’re not sure of an answer, that’s okay. Just tell me and I’ll go to the next question. . . .
As you may know the government recently made a decision about the use of federal
funds to do research on stem cells that come from very early human embryos. From
what you’ve seen or heard in the news, did they decide to . . . allow scientists to use
federal funds for this type of research or continue to ban the use of federal funds for
this type of research?
Kaiser
10/00
(N = 949)
(%)
Allow scientists to use federal funds for
this type of research (correct answer)
Continue to ban the use of federal funds
Don’t know/refused
17
18
65
Poll Trends: Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning
143
7. Do you personally feel that you have a good basic understanding of the stem cell
issue, or don’t you know that much about it?
Have a good understanding
Don’t know much
No opinion
ABC 8/10–8/12/01
(N = 1,040) (%)
60
38
2
8. Now, I have a few more questions about some of the news stories that I just mentioned. If you’re not sure of an answer, that’s okay. Just tell me and I’ll go to the next
question. . . . You may have seen or heard news reports about the National Institutes of
Health releasing a list of stem cell lines eligible for research with federal funding. As
far as you know, under President [George W.] Bush’s current policy, will stem cell
lines developed in the future be eligible for federal funding for research if they meet
certain criteria, or will only those named recently be eligible for federal funding?
Kaiser
9/28–10/1/01
(N = 1,001)
(%)
Stem cell lines developed in the future will be eligible
if they meet certain criteria
Only those stem cell lines recently named by the
National Institutes of Health (correct answer)
Don’t know/refused
14
28
58
9. I have a few more questions about some of the news stories that I just mentioned. If
you’re not sure of an answer, that’s okay. Just tell me and I’ll go to the next question. . . .
You may have seen or heard news reports about the controversy involving federal
funding of stem cell research. From what you may have seen or heard in the news,
what is the major reason for this controversy? . . . Human embryos are destroyed in the
research process; stem cell research is potentially dangerous to the adult subjects who
participate in the research trials; there is not enough money in the federal budget to
fund stem cell research.
Kaiser
9/28–10/1/01
(N = 1,001)
(%)
Human embryos are destroyed in the research process
(correct answer)
Stem cell research is potentially dangerous to the adult
subjects who participate in the research trials
There is not enough money in the federal budget to
fund stem cell research
Don’t know/refused
51
7
9
33
144
Matthew C. Nisbet
10. There is a new branch of medicine that uses stem cell therapy to develop new treatments for disease. There are several different kinds of stem cells. What kind of stem cells
come to your mind when you think about stem cell therapy?
Don’t know
Embryonic stem cells
Specific uses of stems cells for treatment of disease
No Answer
Other response
Newborns/umbilical cord/placenta
Other response
Adult stem cells
Unborn fetus/aborted fetus/abortions
Fetal stem cells (unspecified)
VCU
9/02
(N = 1,000)
(%)
55
17
9
7
4
4
4
1
2
2
NOTE.—VCU coded open-ended responses into categories.
Moral Dimensions of Embryonic Stem Cell Research
11. Some people feel that human life begins at the moment of conception. Others feel
that human life does not begin until the baby is actually born. Do you, yourself, feel
that human life begins at conception, at the time of birth, or at some point in between?
At conception
At birth
Some point in between
No opinion
Haven’t heard enough to say
Not sure/refused
N
Gallup
5/81
(%)
54
17
22
7
NA
NA
1,519
Ropera
10/81
(%)
59
30
6
5
NA
NA
2,000
LA Timesb,c
3/89
(%)
41
15
21
NA
10
7
3,583
LA Timesd
6/00
(%)
53
12
29
6
NA
NA
2,071
NOTE.—NA = not asked.
a
There is a good deal of discussion these days on when human life begins and ends. Is it your
view that life begins at conception or that life begins at birth? Those respondents indicating
“somewhere in between” volunteered that specific response.
b
Do you believe that life begins at conception, or at birth, or somewhere in between, or haven’t
you heard enough about that yet to say?
c
Nationwide sample of 2,406 adults, plus an oversample of 1,177 women. Men and women
were weighted to their proper proportion in the population.
d
Do you believe that life begins at conception, or at birth, or somewhere in between?
Poll Trends: Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning
145
12. In your opinion, when does human life begin . . . when a man’s sperm fertilizes a
woman’s egg, when an embryo is implanted in a woman’s uterus, when a fetus is viable—that is, is able to survive outside the womb, or at birth?
Sperm fertilizes egg
Implanted in womb
Fetus is viable
At birth
Don’t know/refused
N
Newsweek
5/03
(%)
46
12
24
11
7
1,009
13a. The kind of stem cell research the government is considering involves human
embryos that have been created in medical clinics by fertilizing a woman’s egg outside
the womb. An embryo may be implanted into a woman’s womb to develop into a baby.
If an embryo is not implanted into a woman’s womb to develop into a baby, it may be
destroyed, either by being discarded or by being used for medical research. Some
scientists believe this type of medical research could lead to treatments for such
diseases as Alzheimer’s, diabetes, heart disease, and spinal cord injuries. . . . Which
comes closest to your view of this kind of stem cell research: it is morally wrong and is
unnecessary, it is morally wrong but may be necessary, it is not morally wrong and
may be necessary, or it is not morally wrong but is unnecessary?
Source
Morally wrong, and is unnecessary
Morally wrong, may be necessary
Not morally wrong, may be necessary
Not morally wrong, may be unnecessary
No opinion
Depends situation (volunteered)
Not a moral issue (volunteered)
N
Gallup
7/10
(%)
Embryo
Gallupa
8/10
(%)
Embryo
20
34
35
4
7
NA
NA
998
18
31
42
5
4
NA
NA
1,017
NOTE.—NA = not asked.
a
I would like to ask about a specific type of research on stem cells developed from human
embryos that have been created outside a woman’s womb. This kind of stem cell research destroys
the embryos but may help find treatments for major diseases. As you may know, fertility clinics
increase a woman’s chance to have a child by fertilizing several embryos, but only a few are implanted
in her womb to enable her to have a baby. Some stem cells are developed from the remaining embryos
that the fertility clinics usually discard. Which comes closest to your view of this kind of stem cell
research—it is morally wrong and is unnecessary; it is morally wrong but may be necessary, it is
not morally wrong and may be necessary, or it is not morally wrong but is unnecessary?
146
Matthew C. Nisbet
13b. Next, I’m going to read you a list of issues. Regardless of whether or not you
think it should be legal, for each one, please tell me whether you personally believe
that in general it is morally acceptable or morally wrong. How about . . . medical
research using stem cells obtained from human embryos?
Morally acceptable
Morally wrong
No opinion
Depends on situation (volunteered)
Not a moral issue (volunteered)
N
Gallup
5/02
(%)
Embryo
Gallup
5/03
(%)
Embryo
39
52
6
2
1
1,015
38
54
5
3
NA
1,005
NOTE.—NA = not asked.
14a. Sometimes fertility clinics produce extra fertilized eggs, also called embryos, that
are not implanted in a woman’s womb. These extra embryos either are discarded, or
couples can donate them for use in medical research called stem cell research. Some
people support stem cell research, saying it’s an important way to find treatments for
many diseases. Other people oppose stem cell research, saying it’s wrong to use any
human embryos for research purposes. What about you? Do you support or oppose
stem cell research?
Source
Support/Favor
Oppose
Don’t know
No answer
N
Beliefnet
6/01
(%)
Extra embryos
ABCa
7/26–7/30/01
(%)
Extra embryos
Ipsosb
8/10–8/12/01
(%)
Extra embryos
58
30
12
63
33
4
NA
1,352
75
19
6
NA
1,000
1,022
NOTE.—NA = not asked.
a
Sometimes fertility clinics produce extra fertilized eggs, also called embryos, that are not
implanted in a woman’s womb. These extra embryos either are discarded, or couples can donate
them for use in medical research called stem cell research. Some people support stem cell
research, saying it’s an important way to find treatments for many diseases. Other people oppose
stem cell research, saying it’s wrong to use any human embryos for research purposes. What
about you? Do you support or oppose stem cell research?
b
As you may know, this kind of so-called stem cell research is being used by scientists trying to
find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, or diabetes. It involves
using destroyed embryos discarded from fertility clinics that no longer need them. Do you favor
or oppose using discarded embryos to conduct stem cell research to try to find cures for diseases
such as those I mentioned?
Poll Trends: Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning
147
14b. On the whole, how much do you favor or oppose medical research that uses stem
cells from human embryos—do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat
oppose, or strongly oppose this?
Strongly favor
Somewhat favor
Somewhat oppose
Strongly oppose
Don’t know
No answer
N
VCU
9/01 (%)
17
31
21
22
7
2
1,122
VCU
9/02 (%)
12
23
22
29
11
4
1,000
VCU
9/03 (%)
17
30
21
23
6
3
1,003
15a. Please tell me if you agree with each of the following statements strongly or
somewhat? . . . Scientists should be able to use stem cells obtained from very early
human embryos to find cures for serious diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s?
Strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, strongly disagree, don’t know/
refused.
Alliance for Aging Research
5/01 (%)
Embryos unspecified
Source
Strongly favor
Somewhat favor
Strongly oppose
Somewhat oppose
Don’t know
No answer
N
37
21
11
21
6
1,000
15b. One of the issues involved in this type of research is whether or not the embryos
used were developed specifically for stem cell research. Do you think the federal
government should or should not allow scientists to fertilize human eggs specifically
for the purpose of creating stem cells? Yes, should allow; no, should not allow; no
opinion.
Should allow
Should not allow
No opinion
N
Gallup
7/10–7/11/01 (%)
Research embryos
Harrisa
7/12–7/16/01 (%)
Extra embryos
38
54
8
1,022
61
21
18
1,011
a
Stem cells come from embryos left over from in vitro fertilization, which are not used
and are normally destroyed. Many medical researchers want to use them to develop treatments, or to prevent diseases, such as diabetes, Alzheimers’s, or Parkinson’s disease. On
balance, do you think this research should or should not be allowed?
148
Matthew C. Nisbet
16. As you may already know, a stem cell is the basic cell in the body from which all
other cells arise. Medical researchers have been able to isolate stem cells from excess
human embryos developed through in vitro fertilization and fetal tissue that has been
donated to research. The medical researchers believe that human stem cells can be
developed as replacement cells to cure diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, cancer, heart disease, arthritis, burns, or spinal cord problems. Do you favor the
funding of stem cell research by the National Institutes of Health?
JDRF
1/12–
1/15/01
(%)
Source
mentioned
Should fund
Should not
fund
Don’t know
Depends
(volunteered)
N
Source
mentioned
Should fund
Should
not fund
Don’t know
Depends
(volunteered)
N
NCCBa Beliefnetb Gallupc
6/20–
7/10–
6/1–
6/24/01 7/11/01
6/5/01
(%)
(%)
(%)
Extra
embryos Embryo
None
None
Gallup d HarrisIT e ABC f
7/10–
7/17–
7/26–
7/11/01 7/18/01 7/30/01
(%)
(%)
(%)
Extra
embryos None
None
65
25
24
70
60
31
30
13
54
39
43
27
60
36
9
NA
5
NA
9
NA
57
NA
7
NA
27
3
3
NA
1,004
1,013
1,022
998
998
1,015
1,352
Gallupg
8/3–
8/5/01
(%)
Galluph
8/3–
8/5/01
(%)
Gallupi
8/3–
8/5/01
(%)
Gallupj
8/3–
8/5/01
(%)
Gallupk
8/3–
8/5/01
(%)
PewRell
2/25–
3/10/02
(%)
None
Extra Cloned Research
embryos embryos embryos Adult
None
55
29
55
40
28
65
46
49
68
26
43
35
13
3
3
2
1
5
1
4
5
1
18
4
1,017
1,017
1,017
1,017
1,017
2,002
NOTE.—NA = not asked.
a
Stem cells are the basic cells from which all of a person’s tissues and organs develop. Congress
is considering whether to provide funding for experiments using stem cells from human embryos.
The live embryos would be destroyed in their first week of development to obtain these cells. Do
you support or oppose using your federal tax dollars for such experiments?
b
The federal government supports funding for a variety of medical research. Do you think federal funding for medical research should or should not provide funding for stem cell research?
c
As you may know, the federal government is considering whether to fund certain kinds of
medical research known as “stem cell research.” . . . . . . Do you think the federal government
should or should not fund this type of research, or don’t you know enough to say?
d
The kind of stem cell research the government is considering involves human embryos that have
been created in medical clinics by fertilizing a woman’s egg outside the womb. An embryo may be
implanted into a woman’s womb to develop into a baby. If an embryo is not implanted into a
woman’s womb to develop into a baby, it may be destroyed, either by being discarded or by being
Poll Trends: Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning
149
used for medical research. Some scientists believe this type of medical research could lead to treatments for such diseases as Alzheimer’s, diabetes, heart disease and spinal cord injuries. . . . Giventhis
information, do you think the federal government should or should not fund this type of research?
e
Based on what you have read or heard, do you think that the federal government should or
should not fund stem cell research?
f
The federal government provides funding to support a variety of medical research. Do you think
federal funding for medical research should or should not include funding for stem cell research?
g
As you may know, the federal government is considering whether to fund certain kinds of
medical research known as “stem cell research.” . . . Do you think the federal government should
or should not fund this type of research?
h
I would like to ask about a few specific types of research on stem cells developed from human
embryos that have been created outside a woman’s womb. This kind of stem cell research destroys
the embryos but may help find treatments for major diseases. . . . As you may know, fertility clinics increase a woman’s chance to have a child by fertilizing several embryos, but only a few are
implanted in her womb to enable her to have a baby. Some stem cells are developed from the
remaining embryos that the fertility clinics usually discard. Do you think the federal government
should or should not fund research on stem cells from this kind of embryo?
i
Some stem cells may be developed from embryos produced by cloning cells from a living
human being rather than by fertilizing a woman’s egg. Do you think the federal government
should or should not fund research on stem cells from this kind of embryo?
j
I would like to ask about a few specific types of research on stem cells developed from human
embryos that have been created outside a woman’s womb. This kind of stem cell research
destroys the embryos but may help find treatments for major diseases. . . . Some stem cells are
developed from embryos that are created in laboratories specifically for the purpose of conducting
this research and not to help women have a child. Do you think the federal government should or
should not fund research on stem cells from this kind of embryo?
k
There is another kind of research using stem cells that come just from adults and do not come from
embryos at all. The research results in no injury to the person from whom the stem cells are taken. Do
you think the federal government should or should not fund research on this kind of stem cells?
l
Do you think the federal government should or should not fund stem cell research?
17. As you may know, President [George W.] Bush gave a speech tonight [August 9,
2001] on stem cell research, and he announced that he would allow the government to
fund research using stem cells that have been created in the past in a process that
destroyed human embryos. The government will not fund stem cell research that would
destroy additional embryos in the future. . . . Overall, do you approve or disapprove of
Bush’s decision on stem cell research?
Approve
Disapprove
No opinion
N
Gallup
8/9/01
(%)
50
25
25
581
ABCa
8/10–8/12/01
(%)
56
32
12
1,040
Gallupb
8/10–8/12/01
(%)
60
34
6
1,017
Ipsosc
8/10–8/12/01
(%)
62
32
6
1,000
a
George W. Bush has said he will allow limited federal funding for research on stem cells
taken from human embryos. Given what you know about the issue, do you approve or disapprove
of Bush’s decision to allow limited federal funding for embryonic stem cell research?
b
As you may know, President [George W.] Bush gave a speech Thursday night [August 9,
2001] on stem cell research, and he announced that he would allow the government to fund
research using stem cells that have been created in the past in a process that destroyed human
embryos. The government will not fund stem cell research that would destroy additional embryos
in the future. . . . Overall, do you approve or disapprove of Bush’s decision on stem cell research?
c
President [George W.] Bush announced that federal funding would be allowed only for
research using embryos that have already been destroyed. Scientists can continue to grow and har-
150
Matthew C. Nisbet
vest stem cells from those experiments already under way. President Bush also announced that no
more embryos could ever be destroyed for future research that uses federal funds. Do you approve
or disapprove of President Bush’s decision to allow federal funding of stem cell research already
under way using destroyed embryos, but banning any further destruction of embryos for future
stem cell research?
Reproductive and Therapeutic Cloning
18. Now here are a few questions about a different topic—a process called cloning. As
you may have read or heard, medical researchers are on the verge of discovering a way
to create new embryos, called clones, from a fertile egg. The original embryo and its
clones can grow into babies that are identical copies of each other. A cloned embryo
can be frozen and put into a mother’s womb for development at any time. Do you
approve or disapprove of the use of cloning for each of the following purposes? . . . To
make it possible for societies to clone and reproduce large numbers of individuals with
genetically desirable traits?
Yank.
1993
(%)
Select
traits
Yank.a
1993
(%)
Select
genetic
child
Yank.b
1993
(%)
Later
twin
Yank.c
1993
(%)
Screen
abnormalities
Yank.d
1993
(%)
Babies
for
organs
Approve
Disapprove
Don’t know
N
6
89
5
500
16
80
4
500
17
78
5
500
40
52
8
500
19
78
3
500
Application
Yank.e
1998
(%)
Infertility
Yank.f
1998
(%)
Humans
for organs
Yank.g
1998
(%)
Later twin
Yank.h
2/01
(%)
Clone
lost child
Yank.i
2/01
(%)
Humans
for organs
Approve
Disapprove
Don’t know
N
33
63
4
1,031
19
78
3
1,031
13
86
2
1,031
10
88
2
1,015
28
68
4
1,015
Application
Yank.j
2/01
(%)
Gay couples
Yank.k
2/01
(%)
Superhumans
Yank.l
2/01
(%)
Later twin
Yank.m
2/01
(%)
Infertile
couples
Yank.n
2/01
(%)
Save
life of person
Approve
Disapprove
Don’t know
N
10
86
4
1,015
6
92
2
1,015
10
88
2
1,015
20
76
4
1,015
21
74
5
1,015
Application
Poll Trends: Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning
151
Application
Gallupo
11/01
(%)
Human birth
Pew Pressp
3/02
(%)
Experiment
Gallupq
5/02
(%)
Human birth
Favor
Oppose
Don’t know
N
9
88
3
1,025
17
77
6
2,002
8
90
2
1,012
a
. . . To establish embryo banks from which prospective parents could select a child with
genetic characteristics they desire?
b
. . . To make it possible for parents to have a twin child at a later date, if they want to?
c
. . . To make it easier for scientists to screen embryos for inherited abnormalities?
d
. . . To produce babies whose vital organs can be used to save the life of others?
e
Do you approve or disapprove of the use of cloning for each of the following purposes?. . . To
provide infertile couples using test-tube fertilization with more embryos to increase their chances
of conceiving?
f
. . . To produce babies whose vital organs can be used to save the life of others?
g
. . . To make it possible for parents to have a twin at a later date?
h
Do you think each of the following justifies creating a human clone or don’t you think so?. . .
To allow parents who have lost a child to create a clone of the child they lost? Yes, no, not sure.
i
. . . To produce copies of humans whose vital organs can be used to save the lives of others?
j
. . . To allow gay couples to have children using on their own genes?
k
. . . To produce genetically superior human beings?
l
. . . To allow parents to have a twin child at a later date, if they wanted to?
m
. . . To help infertile couples to have children without having to adopt?
n
. . . To save the life of the person who is being cloned?
o
Do you approve or disapprove of cloning that is designed specifically to result in the birth of a
human being?
p
Do you favor or oppose scientific experimentation on the cloning of human beings?
q
Do you favor or oppose each of the following? How about. . . cloning that is designed specifically to result in the birth of a human being?
19a. If it becomes possible, do you think the cloning of humans should or should not be
allowed?
Purpose
Should allow
Should not allow
Don’t know
N
a
b
c
ABC
2/97
(%)
Reproductive
Yank.a
2/01
(%)
Reproductive
Gallupb
5/01
(%)
Reproductive
CBSc
5/02
(%)
Reproductive
10
87
3
1,122
10
88
2
1,015
9
89
2
1,012
11
85
4
647
Do you think scientists should be allowed to clone human beings, or don’t you think so?
If it becomes possible, do you think the cloning of humans should or should not be allowed?
Do you think scientists should be allowed or should not be allowed to try to clone human beings?
152
Matthew C. Nisbet
19b. Scientists have cloned animals, using basic genetic material from one animal to
produce an offspring with the exact genetic makeup. . . . Scientists say it’s also possible
to clone humans, using basic genetic material from one person to produce a child with
the exact same genetic makeup. Do you think it should be legal or illegal to clone
humans in the United States?
Purpose
Should be legal
Should be illegal
Don’t know
N
Beliefnet
8/01
(%)
Reproductive
11
87
2
1,024
Beliefneta
8/01
(%)
Medical treatments
33
63
4
1,024
Gallupb
1/03
(%)
Reproductive
11
86
3
1,000
a
Some scientists want to use human cloning for medical treatments only. They would produce a
fertilized egg, or human embryo, that’s an exact genetic copy of a person, and then take cells from
this embryo to provide medical treatments for that person. Supporters say this could lead to medical breakthroughs. Opponents say it could lead to the creation of a cloned person because someone
could take an embryo that was cloned for medical treatments and use it to produce a child. Do you
think human cloning for medical treatments should be legal or illegal in the United States?
b
Do you think that cloning that is designed specifically to result in the birth of a human being
should be legal or illegal in the United States?
20a. Do you favor or oppose an outright ban on the cloning of human beings?
NBC/WSJ
1/98 (%)
Favor a ban
Oppose a ban
Don’t know
Unsure
Refused
N
58
36
6
NA
NA
1,005
NBC/WSJ
1/02 (%)
54
39
7
NA
NA
1,011
NOTE.—NA = not asked.
20b. Would you favor or oppose a law that would prohibit the cloning of human beings?
Favor prohibition
Oppose prohibition
Don’t know
Unsure
Refused
N
Gallup
3/02 (%)
Gallupa
3/02 (%)
53
41
6
NA
1
1,012
39
36
NA
25
1
1,024
NOTE.—NA = not asked.
a
Would you favor or oppose a law that would prohibit the cloning of human beings, or are you
unsure?
Poll Trends: Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning
153
21. Do you approve or disapprove of cloning that is not designed specifically to result
in the birth of a human being, but is designed to aid medical research that might find
treatments for certain diseases?
Application
Approve
Disapprove
Don’t know
No answer
N
Gallup
11/01
(%)
Medical
research
Gallupa
5/02
(%)
Organs
for transplant
Gallupb
5/02
(%)
Adult cells
for research
Gallupc
5/02
(%)
Embryos
for research
VCUd
9/02
(%)
Medical
research
54
41
5
NA
1,025
59
37
4
NA
1,012
51
44
5
NA
1,012
34
61
5
NA
1,012
45
51
2
1
1,000
NOTE.—NA = not asked.
a
Do you approve or disapprove of each of the following? . . . cloning of human organs or body
parts that can then be used in medical transplants?
b
How about . . . cloning of human cells from adults for use in medical research?
c
How about . . . cloning of human embryos for use in medical research?
d
Do you favor or oppose using human cloning technology if it is used only to help medical
research develop new treatments for disease—do you strongly favor (21 percent), somewhat favor
(24 percent), somewhat oppose (13 percent), or strongly oppose (38 percent) this? In the table the
response categories are collapsed.
22. As you may know, Congress is considering several proposals to ban human cloning. Which of the following positions do you most agree with—human cloning should
not be banned; only human cloning that leads to the birth of a human should be banned,
but cloning for purposes of laboratory research should be allowed; or all human cloning should be banned?
Should not be banned
Should be allowed for purposes of research
Should be banned
No opinion
Other
N
Gallup
1/13–1/16/03
(%)
4
34
59
2
1
1,000
LA Timesa
1/30–2/2/03
(%)
11
41
43
5
NA
1,385
NOTE.—NA = not asked.
a
Which of these statements comes closest to your view on human cloning? I support a complete ban on all research into human cloning without exception. I support a ban on human cloning
that would still allow research on cloned embryos to learn more about diseases. I oppose any law
that restricts research into human cloning.
154
Matthew C. Nisbet
References
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Grady, Denise, and Robert Pear. 2002. “Claim of Human Cloning Provokes Harsh Criticism.”
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