Attitudes towards human reproductive cloning, assisted reproduction and gene selection: a survey of 4600 British twins.
BACKGROUND
Surveys have shown opposition to human reproductive cloning (HRC) in many countries. Views of identical (monozygotic, MZ) twins are of particular interest, as they naturally share 100% of their genes. We investigated attitudes of British twins towards HRC in the context of assisted reproduction technologies (ART) and gene selection.


METHODS
About 4651 identical and non-identical (dizygotic, DZ) twins expressed their degree of agreement or disagreement to nine statements relating to ART, gene selection and HRC in a self-completion questionnaire.


RESULTS
Most subjects (70% and 78% respectively) did not regard the use of medical technologies to treat infertility as interfering with either nature or God's will, despite believing that infertility is not a disease (54%). Attitudes to gene selection and HRC were context dependent, with more favourable views towards preventing serious diseases than towards enhancing traits. About 44% supported a permanent ban of HRC. MZ twins were significantly more likely to agree that HRC should be allowed for medical purposes, such as saving a sibling's life, than were DZ twins. Increasing religiosity generally correlated with more negative attitudes.


CONCLUSIONS
Many attitudes are context dependent. More positive views of MZ twins towards HRC could be linked to their experience with being genetically identical.
Prainsack
B
B
Life Science Governance Research Platform, Department of Political Science, University of Vienna, Universitätsstrasse 7, A-1010 Vienna, Austria. barbara.prainsack@univie.ac.at
Cherkas
L F
LF
Spector
T D
TD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D019976:Cloning, Organism / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005826:Genetics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053652:Nuclear Transfer Techniques / Q000523:psychology; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000523:psychology*; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic / Q000523:psychology*; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic / Q000523:psychology*