What People Think

Should insurance companies have access to your genetic record or DNA without permission?

Yes 6% No 94%

Should employers be able to obtain access to employees' genetic records or DNA without permission?

Yes 5% No 95%

The Federal Government is currently spending $3 billion trying to map all human DNA. Do you agree or disagree with this use of taxpayer dollars?

Agree 37% Disagree 55%

Some private companies working to discover genes are also trying to get patents on them so they can make money. Do you approve or disapprove of this?

Approve 23% Disapprove 71%

Would you like to know, through genetic profiling, what harmful diseases you might suffer from later in life?

Yes 62% No 34%

Your children might suffer from?

Yes 64% No 33%

Should a person who smokes pay higher insurance rates than a nonsmoker?

Yes 55% No 42%

Should a person whose genetic profile shows potential problems pay higher health-insurance rates than someone whose profile does not?

Yes 8% No 88%

Should the police be allowed to collect DNA information from suspected criminals, as they currently do with fingerprints?

Yes 66% No 29%

Is it a good or a bad idea for the FBI to create a DNA database with information gathered from suspected criminals and crime scenes throughout the country?

Good Idea 71% Bad Idea 24%

If you could choose traits for your baby, would you choose to:

Yes Rule out a fatal disease 60% Ensure greater intelligence 33% Influence height or weight 12% Determine sex 11%

Should parents with genetically linked diseases be required to test their children for them?

Yes 39% No 55%

If you had the gene for an incurable life-threatening disease, would you have your unborn child tested for the disease?

Yes 70% No 26%

If the test showed that the baby would have the disease, would you consider ending the pregnancy through abortion?*

Yes 39% No 48%

*Asked of those who would have the child tested

Should the government regulate:

Using gene therapy--that is, altering genes to cure or prevent diseases?

Yes 62% No 30%

Cloning of whole animals?

Yes 47% No 47%

Using genetic testing to pick the traits in unborn children?

Yes 46% No 49%

Since not all prescription drugs work for everyone, would you pay extra for a genetically customized drug that you knew would work for you?

Yes 67% No 28%

Should genetically engineered food be labeled as such?

Yes 81% No 14%

If food were labeled as genetically engineered, would you buy it for yourself or your family?

Yes 28% No 58%

*From a telephone poll of 1,031 adult Americans taken for TIME/CNN last month by Yankelovich Partners Inc. Margin of error +/- 3%. "Not sures" omitted.