Public Understanding of CRISPR and Gene Drive Technologies and Implications for Public Acceptance

This paper examines the public understanding of genetic engineering, in this case CRISPR. An in-depth review of the literature and some very current findings on how the public makes sense of complicated scientific principles will be examined. The author comes from a background in the intuitive nature of public toxicological decoding when it comes to nanotechnological developments and recently extended his work in GES (genetic engineering and society). Public understanding of science and technology is affected by a broad range of heuristics and is amplified by media, esp. digital media, and the protestations from non-governmental organizations. How CRISPR is understood will impact how readily the public may be willing to accept its developments and applications. The juxtaposition of CRIPR developments and health and medicine offers a unique oppotunity to rewrite the stories on genetic engienrring. After spending two years preparing a manuscript on the ZIKV (Zika virus) and examining the options for vector control from Wolbachia approaches (MosquitoMate and Eliminate Degnue), the Oxitec engineered mosquito, and some more exotic gene drive approaches, the possiiblities of integrating these approaches into integrated pest management solution will be detailed against the body of literature on public understanding of science and technology. Lessons learned include new frames for gene drives as well as more traditional issues including receiver segmentation, message amplification, and other attenuative strategies for less than precise "false news" on gene drives. The paper concludes with a call for a marketing approach for emerging science.