Britons in favour of editing genes to correct inherited diseases
by Ian Sample Science editor from on (#3HJMF)
But designer babies, micro-pigs and fluorescent carrots get the thumbs-down, Royal Society survey finds
Britons are broadly in favour of rewriting the genetic code of human embryos to prevent children from inheriting devastating diseases - but draw the line at designer babies and creating "cosmetic" organisms such as micro-pigs, fluorescent fish and perfect carrots.
The views were revealed in one of the first major surveys of public opinion on a new generation of genetic technologies that have given scientists the power to alter the DNA of living organisms with unprecedented ease and precision.