[tt] nano, synthbio unknown for most USians

[Eugen Leitl]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080930075700.htm

Nanotechnology And Synthetic Biology: Americans Don't Know What's Coming

ScienceDaily (Sep. 30, 2008) — A groundbreaking poll finds that almost half
of U.S. adults have heard nothing about nanotechnology, and nearly nine in 10
Americans say they have heard just a little or nothing at all about the
emerging field of synthetic biology, according to a new report released by
the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies (PEN) and Peter D. Hart Research.
Both technologies involve manipulating matter at an incredibly small scale to
achieve something new.

This new insight into limited public awareness of emerging technologies comes
as a major leadership change is about to take hold in the nation's capital.
Public policy experts are concerned, regardless of party, that the federal
government is behind the curve in engaging citizens on the potential benefits
and risks posed by technologies that could have a significant impact on
society.

"Early in the administration of the next president, scientists are expected
to take the next major step toward the creation of synthetic forms of life.
Yet the results from the first U.S. telephone poll about synthetic biology
show that most adults have heard just a little or nothing at all about it,"
says PEN Director David Rejeski. The poll findings are contained a report
published September 30.

Synthetic biology is the use of advanced science and engineering to construct
or re-design living organisms–like bacteria–so that they can carry out
specific functions. This emerging technology is likely to develop rapidly in
the coming years, much as nanotechnology did in the last decade. In the near
future the first synthetic biology "blockbuster" drug is anticipated to hit
the market—an affordable treatment for the 500 million people in the world
suffering from malaria.

The poll, which was conducted by the same firm that produces the well-known
NBC News/Wall Street Journal polls, found that about two-thirds of adults say
they have heard nothing at all about synthetic biology, and only 2 percent
say they have heard "a lot" about the new technology. Even with this very low
level of awareness, a solid two-thirds of adults are willing to express an
initial opinion on the potential benefits versus risks tradeoff of synthetic
biology.

This survey was informed by two focus groups conducted in August in suburban
Baltimore. This is the first time—to the pollsters' knowledge—that synthetic
biology has been the subject of a representative national telephone survey.

At the same time, the poll found that about half of adults say they have
heard nothing at all about nanotechnology. About 50 percent of adults are too
unsure about nanotechnology to make an initial judgment on the possible
tradeoffs between benefits and risks. Of those people who are willing to make
an initial judgment, they think benefits will outweigh risks by a three to
one margin when compared to those who believe risks will outweigh benefits.
The plurality of respondents, however, believes that risks and benefits will
be about equal.

A major industry forecasting firm determined that last year nanotech goods in
the global marketplace totaled $147 billion. According to the poll, the level
of U.S. public awareness about nanotechnology has not changed measurably
since 2004 when Hart Research conducted the first poll on the topic on behalf
of the PEN.

The report is titled "The American Public's Awareness Of And Perceptions
About Potential Risks and Benefits of Nanotechnology & Synthetic Biology" and
can be requested from  Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies.

About Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is the ability to measure, see, manipulate and manufacture
things usually between 1 and 100 nanometers. A nanometer is one billionth of
a meter; a human hair is roughly 100,000 nanometers wide. In 2007, the global
market for goods incorporating nanotechnology totaled $147 billion. Lux
Research projects that figure will grow to $3.1 trillion by 2015.

About Synthetic Biology

Synthetic biology is the use of advanced science and engineering to make or
re-design living organisms, such as bacteria, so that they can carry out
specific functions. Synthetic biology involves making new genetic code, also
known as DNA, that does not already exist in nature.

Adapted from materials provided by Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies.