Human Practices -To spread LIFESCIENCE throughout the world

In 2010, iGEM Kyoto and other iGEM teams in Japan carried out an attitude survey towards genetically modifying and genetically engineering. We concluded that It seems that people only have abstract and unclear image to this 'professional' technique. Genetic engineering is not still so common in Japan. And many people worry about safety. So engineers are desired to develop safety of biotechnology and spread knowledge about biotechnology.” Considering this conclusion, it is important to enrich the people's knowledge on biotechnology when we want public people to accept biotechnology more. Therefore, we carried out these activities as below.

Life Science Seminar in High School

豊中高校に行って分子細胞生物学に関する講義と実験指導をおこなった よりライフサイエンスに親しんでもらえ、根底からの知識を実験という体験を交えて教育することができた このことはバイオテクノロジーに対する正しい理解をうむことになるだろう

ながーく書いてね 頼む

Toyonaka high school is a SSH (Super Science High School) and conduct programs to increase the number of students who learn university-level education in biology. As one of the programs, we held a seminar in Toyonaka high school at (###date###). In this seminar, we taught molecular biology and experiment to students. Through this activity, students seem to feel familiarity with life science and we could give essential knowledge through the experience of experiment. We believe that this activity can contribute to future understanding of biotechnology.

((改訂前)We held a seminar in Toyonaka high school at (###date###). In this seminar, we taught molecular biology and experiment to students. Through this activity, students seem to feel familiarity with life science and we could give essential knowledge through the experience of experiment. We believe that this activity can contribute to future understanding of biotechnology. あんまり長くならなかった(´･ω･｀)よかったらだれか長くしてください)

Poster session at the school festival

Our University has a school festival called NF every year. This is one of the biggest events in our university and many people from all around Japan visit it. This year, iGEM Kyoto presented our project to these visitors by poster session, and this was actually broadcasted by a popular Japanese TV news program. Through this TV program, we were able to spread our activity to the general public, and succeeded in increasing general knowledge towards biotechnology and life science.

The 4th international symposium on liberal arts and general education

The 4th international symposium on liberal arts and general education is a large scale symposium where many students and public people visit. Therefore, is a good opportunity to enrich people's knowledge on biotechnology and life science to many people. Through presenting our iGEMs’ project here, we enriched people's understanding on life science. Additionally, we received the "Einstein" prize.

International Student Seminar

iGEM Kyoto participated in ISS, short for International Student Seminar. In this seminar いっぱいいろんな人来たよ 外国人もいっぱい来たよ 英語でプロジェクトのプレゼンしたよ それを通していろんなひとのライフサイエンスに対する知識を増やしたよ

このような活動を行ってきた。

しかし、そういった活動を行ったが知識の差だけではなくほかにも要因があるのではないかという疑念が出てきた. We carried out these activities, however, we thought whether そこで、私たちはほかの要因を探るべくアンケート調査を行った。

iGEM Kyoto participated in ISS, short for International Student Seminar. Men and women in all ages including many expatriate visited this seminar. We made presentation about our project in English. Through this project, we have given knowledge about life science to many people.

We had been carrying out these activities. However, we have realized that there is another cause of the fact that people are not positive to accepting the fruits of biotechnology. Then, in order to unravel the cause, we conducted a questionnaire survey.

アンケート調査方法

アンケートは選択肢形式にし、質問の初めに性別、出身国、年齢、宗教、職業を応えてもらい、それぞれの要素が回答にどのように影響してくるのかを調べた。また、外国人へのアンケートは、現地で実際に取ったほか、京都に来ている観光客からも集めた。（どこでやったか書く） アンケートは以下のものを使用した。

Questionnaire!!!!
Q1 Have you ever thought about experiments using living things?
1 Yes 2 No

Q2 Do you think these experiments using living-creatures are permissible? Please give X as many as you think it is permissible.
1 check 2 no check
Q2.1 Subjects are killed in the experiment, but it can save people in disease.
Q2.2 Subjects can be killed in the experiment, but it can save people in disease.
Q2.3 Subjects are not killed in the experiment but they never go back in nature. However, it can save people in disease.
Q2.4 Subjects are only observed in nature and it can save people in disease.
Q2.5 Subjects are killed in the experiment, but it can improve our life.
Q2.6 Subjects can be killed in the experiment, but it can improve our life.
Q2.7 Subjects are not killed in the experiment but they never go back in nature. However, it can improve our life.
Q2.8 Subjects are only observed in nature and it can improve our life.
Q2.9 Subjects are killed in the experiment, but it can advance science.
Q2.10 Subjects can be killed in the experiment, but it can advance science.
Q2.11 Subjects are not killed in the experiment but they never go back in nature. However, it can advance science.
Q2.12 Subjects are only observed in nature and it can advance science.

Q3 How much do you know about genetically modifying (GM) technology?
1 I know well. 2 I know only its name. 3 I do not know at all.
Q4 Do you think modifying creature’s gene is ethically permissible or not?
1 Yes, we can modify every creatures’ gene. 2 Partly yes, some can be but others are not. 3 No, any living things’ gene cannot be modified.

Q5 Who answered ‘partly yes’ to the fifth question, please answer this question. Which of these creatures’ gene can be modified? Please give X as many as you think it is permissible.
1 check 2 no check
Q5.1 Bacteria　　Q5.2 wheat　Q5.3 honeybee Q5.4 killifish　　Q5.5 frog Q5.6 chickens　　Q5.7 mouse　Q5.8 dog　Q5.9 monkey Q5.10 human beings

（アンケートの結果）

（result）

Q1

性別、職業で比較しても、目立った違いは見られなかった。 年齢で比較したところ、30代から60代の年齢層でyesの割合が高くなった。

Q2

この問いの解答基準は、動物実験で人類が得る利益とその実験で対象の動物が受ける苦痛のどちらを回答者が重要視するかということであろう。 ”人命を救う”、”生活の役に立つ”、”科学の発展に寄与する”という３つの利益 について、動物実験が許されるかを聞いた。その結果、人命を救うための動物実験はほかの二つの利益のために行われる動物実験より許されると答えた人が明らかに多かった。 性別差については、男性の方が生物実験を認める人が多いことがわかり、男性は人類の利益を、女性は動物が受ける苦痛を重要視しているだろう。 職業、年齢で比較すると、目立った違いは見られなかった。 特に、Ｑ１の”生物を使う実験について考えたことがあるか否か”で比較すると、ほとんど違いがみられなかった。 このことから、動物実験を考えたことがあるかが、この問いの解答基準（人類の利益と動物の苦痛のどちらを重視するか）に影響をあたえないと思われる。

問４ 信仰の有無で

Yes p=0.238593 Partly yes p=0.377508 No p=0.011818
Yes,Partly yes は有意差がない
No は有意差があるといえる よって信仰の有無が許容度に影響を与えている可能性がある

Q5

性別、地域、宗教別にみた結果に大きな差が認められる。 性別差を見ると、男性の方が、女性より遺伝子組み換えを認めている。 地域差を見ると、アジア圏の人々が、大腸菌や小麦といった生物に対する実験に約50％の人が許容すると答えており、ネズミは約35％、犬、猿は約20％近くが許容している。比較して、ヨーロッパ圏の人々の答えは、大腸菌と小麦はやはり高めだが、その他全ての動物が約15%の許容をしている。 この傾向はキリスト教と仏教で比較したグラフの結果と似ている。また母数は少ないがアジアのキリスト教徒のグラフを見ると世界のキリスト教徒のグラフと似ている。このデータから私たちはこの違いは宗教によるものだと考えた。

結論

2013年のアンケートでは知識での差は出ず、宗教の差が出た。 しかし２０１０年のアンケートは知識の差が出ている。 今回は合成生物学を受け入れる知識以外の理由を探る目的で、知識に関する問いを少なくしたので、知識の差が出なかった。 ２０１０と２０１３を踏まえて、私たちは誰かの信仰に干渉したり、私たちの考えを誰かに押し付けられないので、個人の信仰について配慮しながら、合成生物学についての知識を広めていくべきだ

In the result of the questionnaire we conducted in 2013, we can see the influence of religion. To the contrary, the effect of knowledge level is not observed. However, in the questionnaire in 2010, people’s attitude vary according to knowledge level. In this time, since the aim is shed light on effect except for knowledge, we made fewer question to measure knowledge level. This is why knowledge level made next to no affection in this survey. Learning from the result of the two survey, because we should not interfere with others’ religion and opinion, we must disseminate information about biotechnology considering each individual person’s religion.

Future work

宗教と知識について深めて
教授の意見