[ti:Study: Americans Approve of Gene Editing Only for Health Purposes] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:00.20]A public opinion study says that most Americans [00:05.32]would accept the use of gene-editing technology [00:09.88]to create babies who are protected from some diseases. [00:15.64]But the same study finds that Americans [00:19.05]do not support changing the genetic structure, [00:22.92]or DNA, of children so that they are faster, [00:27.48]taller or more intelligent. [00:31.28]The research was carried out by the Associated Press [00:35.36]-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. [00:41.00]It comes after a Chinese scientist claimed in November [00:46.20]to have created the world's first gene-edited human babies. [00:51.63]The opinion study suggests that many people are concerned [00:57.28]about what gene-editing means for the future. [01:02.08]More than 1,000 people were questioned in the study. [01:06.60]The researchers said Americans value the medical promise [01:11.28]of technology that could change the genetic qualities [01:15.23]human parents pass on to their children. [01:19.16]But they worry whether it will be used in a moral way. [01:24.72]Jaron Keener works at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History [01:30.12]in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. [01:33.04]The 31-year-old told the Associated Press [01:36.80]that he opposes "rich people being able to create designer babies." [01:43.84]However, Keener said he would support gene editing [01:48.68]in embryos to prevent diseases that have no cure. [01:53.88]He said that his mother has lupus, a disease [01:58.16]that may have both environmental and genetic causes. [02:03.72]"I've been around somebody with a chronic illness [02:07.32]and I've seen the toll that has taken, [02:10.28]not just on her life, but the life of my family," he said. [02:15.26]Gene editing takes out a part of DNA [02:19.84]to remove, replace or repair a gene. [02:24.68]Changes to adult cells only affect the person being treated. [02:30.64]But editing genes in eggs, sperm or embryos [02:35.76]can change the resulting child [02:38.28]in ways that can be passed to future generations. [02:43.24]Because of its important effects, international science guidelines [02:48.48]say gene-editing should not yet be tested in human pregnancies. [02:54.64]Scientists say more laboratory research is needed [02:59.28]to prove whether or not it is safe. [03:02.60]The AP-NORC study suggests that 71 percent of Americans [03:09.92]approve of using gene editing to prevent deadly diseases, [03:14.88]such as cystic fibrosis and Huntington's disease. [03:20.32]The study found that 65 percent of Americans [03:24.20]would approve of using gene editing [03:27.08]to prevent conditions such as blindness. [03:30.84]There also was support for using the technology [03:34.68]to reduce the risk of diseases that might develop [03:38.04]later in life, such as cancer. [03:41.72]However, 66 percent of Americans oppose using gene editing [03:47.12]to change qualities such as intelligence or athletic ability. [03:52.92]They also oppose changing physical qualities [03:56.52]such as eye color or height, the study found. [04:01.00]Dr. Robert Klitzman studies biological research rules. [04:07.08]He noted that, if fertility clinics start to edit the genes of embryos, [04:13.16]there will be hard choices to make [04:15.36]about what conditions can be changed. [04:19.36]What if scientists could identify genes involved [04:23.24]with depression or autism or high body weight? [04:27.56]Would they be acceptable to edit? [04:30.72]"It's one thing to look at the extremes of [04:34.00]fatal diseases versus cosmetic things, but in the middle [04:38.60]are going to be these very different issues," Klitzman said. [04:44.00]More Americans oppose than approve of government support [04:48.80]for testing gene-editing technology on human embryos. [04:53.96]About 25 percent of them have no opinion. [04:58.72]Jaron Keener, the Pittsburgh museum worker, [05:02.52]said that he opposes the research because he fears [05:07.06]it would not be used only to fight disease. [05:10.45]"I just don't have a lot of confidence [05:14.56]people wouldn't use it for their own gain," he said. [05:19.07]The study suggests a lack of trust in the technology. [05:24.40]About one-third of Americans think [05:27.28]gene editing will be used before it is fully tested. [05:32.32]Many scientists believe this has already happened in China. [05:38.12]Nearly 90 percent of the people in the study [05:41.36]thought that the technology will be used [05:44.08]for the wrong reasons. [05:46.12]I'm -Pete Musto. [05:47.96]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM