Biotechnology and genetic engineering: students' knowledge and attitudes

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Abstract
The knowledge and attitudes of GCSE students towards biotechnology and genetic engineering have been investigated in a study of 188 students. One third of the sample, and more males than females, did not know what biotechnology or genetic engineering was, and nearly half the sample could not give examples of either biotechnology or genetic engineering. Internal consistency of response to attitude questions was high. Attitudes of students were context-dependent: there was broad approval of genetic engineering applied to microbes and plants but not of genetic engineering applied to animals; females were particularly unsupportive of genetic engineering applied to farm animals. Attitudes were influenced by the terminology used: statements involving the terms ‘biotechnology’ and ‘selective breeding’ led to lower levels of student disagreement than terms such as ‘changing/altering genes’.

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