Stem Cells—Explained and Explored
Polling shows public in favor, and growing more so
Public opinion polling on the controversial issue of embryonic stem cell research has consistently found that Americans from all walks of life are generally supportive of the use of early-stage embryos discarded by the in vitro fertilization process to search for new cures. Michigan residents also favor this research.
Some studies have also shown that the more people learn about the science, the more supportive they become.
A sampling of recent public opinion polling:
Virginia Commonwealth University, Life Sciences Poll, Sept. 14–29, 2005
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“More Americans than ever ñ 58 percent ñ support embryonic stem-cell research, but only 14 percent believe it holds the greatest promise for curing diseases compared with other types of stem-cell research..”
Johns Hopkins University, Genetics and Public Policy Center, Sept. 9–19, 2005
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“A survey of 2,212 Americans conducted September 9–19, reveals a public opinion landscape that bears little resemblance to the polarized, deep moral divide expressed on the floor of the Congress and in the op-ed pages of American newspapers.
“The survey found wide support for embryonic stem cell (ESC) research that cut across political, religious and socio-economic lines, with two-thirds of respondents either approving or strongly approving of human embryonic stem cell research. Even Fundamentalist and Evangelical Christians — long considered to be the most hard-line opponents of embryonic stem cell studies — split evenly on approval for embryonic stem
cell research.”
Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research, March 18–21, 2005
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“The more respondents learned about the research, the more they supported its use to help treat some of life’s most debilitating diseases and conditions.”
“Of the respondents polled 59% strongly or somewhat favored embryonic stem cell
research, and only 33% opposed or strongly opposed it.
But after a brief description of the research was read, the percentage in favor increased to 68% compared to only 28% opposed.”
The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, December 1–15, 2004
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“A clear majority of those polled (56%) said that it was more important to conduct stem
cell research that might result in new medical cures than to avoid the loss the potential life of human embryos involved in this research (32%).”
More Important To … |
March 2002 |
August 2004 |
December 2004 |
Conduct Research |
43 |
52 |
56 |
Protect Embryos |
38 |
34 |
32 |
Don’t Know |
19 |
14 |
12 |
Taking Our Pulse: The Parade/Research!America Health Poll, July 2005
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In a telephone survey of 1,000 adults nationwide (±3.1% error):
- 58% favor embryonic stem cell research
- 29% oppose. Of those who oppose:
- 57% object on religious grounds
- 39% object on grounds other than religious
- 62% support using fertilized eggs when leftovers are voluntarily donated;
31% oppose
- 69% support use of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT)—when provided a description of the procedure—to create an embryo for embryonic stem cell research.
- 59% support when asked a similar question using “therapeutic cloning” terminology.
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, November 12–14, 2004
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“Stem cell research is widely supported by those who voted to re-elect the President.”
52% said they strongly support (31%) or somewhat support (21%) medical research using stem cells obtained from human embryos that are frozen in fertility clinics five days after an egg has been fertilized, have been donated by the parents, and will be discarded of they are not donated.
By contrast, 42% are either strongly opposed (32%) or somewhat opposed (10%).
Harris Poll, August 18, 2004
View study on Harris website >
“Between 2001 and 2004, the number of Americans favoring embryonic stem cell research has grown from 3 to 1 to more than 6 to 1.”
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