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CRISPR in the North American popular press
Alessandro Marcon1, Zubin Master2, Vardit Ravitsky3
1Health Law Institute, Faculty of Law, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
Summary
Media coverage of CRISPR gene editing highlights its potential benefits, particularly in human health. However, discussions also address ethical concerns and uncertainties, especially regarding germline modifications, promoting a balanced public understanding.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology and genetic engineering
- Molecular biology
- Bioethics
Background:
- CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) technology is recognized as a significant scientific advancement.
- Public discourse surrounding CRISPR often focuses on its transformative potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the portrayal of CRISPR in North American popular press.
- To identify how CRISPR is defined and the benefits and risks associated with it.
Main Methods:
- Content analysis of 228 articles from US and Canadian popular news sources.
- Articles published between January 1, 2012, and July 12, 2017, containing "CRISPR" or "C.R.I.S.P.R."
Main Results:
- CRISPR discussions predominantly focus on human health (83.8%), followed by animals (26.3%) and plants (20.6%).
- Nearly all articles (96.1%) highlighted potential benefits, while 61.4% discussed risks and concerns, primarily related to germline modification uncertainties.
Conclusions:
- Media discourse promotes CRISPR technology while acknowledging associated risks and ethical considerations.
- The portrayal emphasizes both scientific potential and broader societal implications, potentially informing policy responses.
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