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Dr. Leroy E. Hood, a genetics researcher at the University of Washington at Seattle, told a gathering of genetics researchers that they need to spend more of their time educating the public on the benefits and ethical challenges of science.
Hood told the researchers gathered for the Short Course on Experimental and Mammalian Genetics that the coming years will bring major advances that could potentially revolutionize medical treatment. At the same time change is coming at such a breakneck pace that the public is falling further behind and is occasionally caught up in distorted images about genetics research.
"Scientists say they’re too busy with their own research and teaching," Hood told the researchers, "Well, everyone is busy. It’s a matter of priorities. A scientifically literate public is important to many areas of research, including getting it funded."
Hood’s comments couldn’t come a moment too soon. Already movements on either side of the Atlantic are gearing up to protest and perhaps outlaw much of the results of genetic engineering altogether. Greenpeace and others lead protests against genetically altered plants while animal rights groups protest and occasionally destroy research into promising areas of Xenotransplantation (transplanting animal cells into human beings). If scientists don’t wake up and meet these challenges head on, the issue might not be whether or not they can get funded but whether or not they can legally continue to do their important work.
Source:
Scientists urged to help public understand science. Michael Woods, Toledo Blade, July 30, 1998.