The Impact of Activist Pressures on Recombinant DNA Research

This survey of 430 recombinant DNA scientists currently engaged in research assesses the impact of public attention, political advocacy, and litigation on their work. The findings show that most researchers feel they have benefited from public attention to the field, but 34 % feel they have been negatively affected. Sixty-one percent agree that as a result of litigation by activists, greater social responsibility on the part of scientists working in the field is required. Considerable concern is expressed regarding public ignorance, uninformed controversy, and the future impact of activist-inspired litigation, especially on the possible loss of the U.S. competitive edge. Recommendations are made for a public education campaign focused on priority-target audiences (i.e., regulatory decision makers, other scientists, members of the media, and environmentalists). Perhaps the most important technique derived from the field of molecular biology, recombinant DNA, was developed some fifteen years ago. The desire of the scientific community to ensure socially responsible research and development with this powerful technology led to the international confer