This study aimed to assess public attitudes in Japan to the promotion of genomic selection in crop studies and to examine associated factors. We analysed data from a nationwide opinion survey. A total of 4,000 people were selected from the Japanese general population by a stratified two-phase sampling method, and 2,171 people participated by post; this survey asked about the pros and cons of crop-related genomic studies promotion, examined people’s scientific literacy in genomics, and investigated factors thought to be related to genomic literacy and attitude. The relationships were examined using logistic regression models stratified by gender. Survey results showed that 50.0% of respondents approved of the promotion of crop-related genomic studies, while 6.7% disapproved. No correlation was found between literacy and attitude towards promotion. Trust in experts, belief in science, an interest in genomic studies and willingness to purchase new products correlated with a positive attitude towards crop-related genomic studies.
CalnanMMontanerDHorneR (2005) How acceptable are innovative health-care technologies? A survey of public beliefs and attitudes in England and Wales. Social Science & Medicine60(9): 1937–1948.
5.
CroninK (2008) The privatization of public talk: A New Zealand case study on the use of dialogue for civic engagement in biotechnology governance. New Genetics and Society27(3): 285–299.
6.
FurrLAKellySE (1999) The genetic knowledge index: Developing a standard measure of genetic knowledge. Genetic Testing3(2): 193–199.
7.
GaskellGAllansdottirAAllumNCorcheroCFischlerCHampelJJacksonJKronbergerNMejlgaardNRevueltaGSchreinerCStaresSTorgersenHWagnerW (2006) A Report to the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research. Europeans and Biotechnology in 2005: Patterns and Trends. Eurobarometer 64.3.
8.
GuttelingJHanssenLvan der VeerNSeydelE (2006) Trust in governance and the acceptance of genetically modified food in the Netherlands. Public Understanding of Science15(1): 103–112.
9.
HennemanLTimmermansDRvan der WalG (2004) Public experiences, knowledge and expectations about medical genetics and the use of genetic information. Community Genetics7(1): 33–43.
10.
HessDJ (2011) To tell the truth: On scientific counterpublics. Public Understanding of Science20(5): 627–641.
11.
IshiyamaINagaiAMutoKTamakoshiAKokadoMMimuraKTanzawaTYamagataZ (2008) Relationship between public attitudes toward genomic studies related to medicine and their level of genomic literacy in Japan. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A146A(13): 1696–1706.
12.
JallinojaPAroAR (2000) Does knowledge make a difference? The association between knowledge about genes and attitudes toward gene tests. Journal of Health Communication5(1): 29–39.
13.
KrimskyS (2005) From Asilomar to industrial biotechnology: Risks, reductionism and regulation. Science as Culture14(4): 309–323.
14.
MacerDR (1994) Perception of risks and benefits of in vitro fertilization, genetic engineering and biotechnology. Social Science & Medicine38(1): 23–33.
15.
MilewaTCalnanM (2001) Public opinion and regulation of the new human genetics. Healthcare Risk Report7(5): 14–16.
16.
MillerJD (1998) The measurement of civic scientific literacy. Public Understanding of Science7(3): 203–223.
17.
MinaiJSuzukiKTakedaYHoshiKYamagataZ (2007) There are gender differences in attitudes toward surrogacy when information on this technique is provided. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology132(2): 193–199.
18.
National Institute of Science and Technology Policy (2001) Attitude Survey on Science and Technology. Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan.
19.
NisbetMCGoidelRK (2007) Understanding citizen perceptions of science controversy: Bridging the ethnographic–survey research divide. Public Understanding of Science16(4): 421–440.
20.
OmennGS (2000) Genetics and public health: Historical perspectives and current challenges and opportunities. In: KhouryMJBurkeWThomsonEJ (eds) Genetics and Public Health in the 21st Century: Using Genetic Information to Improve Health and Prevent Disease. New York: Oxford University Press, 25–44.
21.
QinWBrownJL (2007) Public reactions to information about genetically engineered foods: Effects of information formats and male/female differences. Public Understanding of Science16(4): 471–488.
22.
QinWBrownJL (2008) Factors explaining male/female differences in attitudes and purchase intention toward genetically engineered salmon. Journal of Consumer Behaviour7(2): 127–145.
23.
SallehA (2008) The fourth estate and the fifth branch: The news media, GM risk, and democracy in Australia. New Genetics and Society27(3): 233–250.
24.
ShamosMH (1995) The Myth of Scientific Literacy. Piscataway, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 73–100.
25.
ShawA (2002) “It just goes against the grain”: Public understandings of genetically modified (GM) food in the UK. Public Understanding of Science11(3): 273–291.
26.
ShawJSIIIBassiKL (2001) Lay attitudes toward genetic testing for susceptibility to inherited diseases. Journal of Health Psychology6(4): 405–423.
27.
SiegristM (2003) Perception of gene technology, and food risks: Results of a survey in Switzerland. Journal of Risk Research6(1): 45–60.
28.
SimonRM (2010) Gender differences in knowledge and attitude towards biotechnology. Public Understanding of Science19(6): 642–653.
29.
Society for Techno-innovation of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (STAFF) (2003) Report of Attitude Survey on Genetic Recombination Technology, Farm Products, Foods. Tokyo: STAFF.
30.
STAFF (2004) Report of Attitude Survey on Genetic Recombination Technology, Farm Products, Foods. Tokyo: STAFF.
31.
STAFF (2007) Report of Attitude Survey on Genetically Modified Farm Products. Tokyo: STAFF.
32.
SturgisP (2005) Public understanding of genomics and the dynamics of opinion change: A panel study, 2003–2004. UKDA study number 5147. UK Data Archive, University of Essex, Colchester.
33.
SturgisPCooperHFife-SchawC (2005) Attitude to biotechnology: Estimating the opinions of a better-informed public. New Genetics and Society24(1): 31–56.
34.
SugitaKEndo-KasaharaSTadaYLijunYYasudaHHayashiYJomoriTEbinumaHTakaiwaF (2005) Genetically modified rice seeds accumulating GLP-1 analogue stimulate insulin secretion from a mouse pancreatic beta-cell line. Federation of European Biochemical Societies Letters579(5): 1085–1088.
35.
SuzukiKHoshiKMinaiJYanaiharaTTakedaYYamagataZ (2006) Analysis of national representative opinion surveys concerning gestational surrogacy in Japan. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology126(1): 39–47.
36.
TakagiHHiroseSYasudaHTakaiwaF (2006) Biochemical safety evaluation of transgenic rice seeds expressing T cell epitopes of Japanese cedar pollen allergens. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry54(26): 9901–9905.
37.
TanakaY (2007) Japanese attitudes toward genetically modified (GM) foods from JGSS-2005 data. JGSS Research Series6: 95–106.
38.
World Health Organization (WHO) (2002) Genomics and World Health: Report of the Advisory Committee on Health Research. Geneva: WHO.
39.
WynneB (1992) Misunderstood misunderstanding: Social identities and public uptake of science. Public Understanding of Science1(3): 281–304.
40.
YamaguchiTSudaF (2010) Changing social order and the quest for justification: GMO controversies in Japan. Science, Technology & Human Values35(3): 382–407.
