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After introducing ourselves, the iGEM competition and Brixells - our project - we had an immediate insight generated from our resident psychologist:  

After introducing ourselves, the iGEM competition and Brixells - our project - we had an immediate insight generated from our resident psychologist:  

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This insight helped us design our investigation into the public’s perception of gene technologies; it ensured we included preparing for the ‘fear’ response that members of the public may exhibit and informed us of what thoughts and concerns the public may have.  

This insight helped us design our investigation into the public’s perception of gene technologies; it ensured we included preparing for the ‘fear’ response that members of the public may exhibit and informed us of what thoughts and concerns the public may have.  

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We then moved on to discuss possible applications of our tool to which we had another insight:  

We then moved on to discuss possible applications of our tool to which we had another insight:  

“You’re researching a tool, and the thing about tools is you don't know who is going to use it for what. Once you make something and release it, it ceases to be your property; you lose control over it”

“You’re researching a tool, and the thing about tools is you don't know who is going to use it for what. Once you make something and release it, it ceases to be your property; you lose control over it”

This is rather significant, and with iGEM this is often an issue that is thought about regularly -  for instance, the implementation of ‘kill switches’ or ‘switch off’ genes once a microorganism with a useful trait leaves the specific area where it is beneficial for society.  

This is rather significant, and with iGEM this is often an issue that is thought about regularly -  for instance, the implementation of ‘kill switches’ or ‘switch off’ genes once a microorganism with a useful trait leaves the specific area where it is beneficial for society.  

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A concluding significant insight also sparked thoughts about how we present our data and findings whilst writing press releases or interacting with the public.  

A concluding significant insight also sparked thoughts about how we present our data and findings whilst writing press releases or interacting with the public.  

“If they mention the long term implications to the media – immediately those long term implications are brought much much closer to home you know. We’ve got to be careful about the language that we use to ensure that people don't take away too much”   

“If they mention the long term implications to the media – immediately those long term implications are brought much much closer to home you know. We’ve got to be careful about the language that we use to ensure that people don't take away too much”   

For researchers, all of these considerations are worth bearing in mind. This was incredibly useful for our investigation into public perceptions as it provided an insight into the current perceptions.  

For researchers, all of these considerations are worth bearing in mind. This was incredibly useful for our investigation into public perceptions as it provided an insight into the current perceptions.  

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Key messages:  

Key messages:  

<br>“I like the idea of a wiki, it's what science should be, it's real sharing, you might find that somebody the other side of the world can recognise value in something that you do.” John Pickering, Psychologist, University of Warwick, 27/08/2015.

<br>“I like the idea of a wiki, it's what science should be, it's real sharing, you might find that somebody the other side of the world can recognise value in something that you do.” John Pickering, Psychologist, University of Warwick, 27/08/2015.

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<br>“If they mention the long term implications to the media – immediately those long term implications are brought much much closer to home you know. We’ve got to be careful about the language that we use to ensure that people don't take away too much”

<br>“If they mention the long term implications to the media – immediately those long term implications are brought much much closer to home you know. We’ve got to be careful about the language that we use to ensure that people don't take away too much”

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<br>2) There is a need for rules and regulations that can keep up with the rate of development in the area.

<br>2) There is a need for rules and regulations that can keep up with the rate of development in the area.

<br>3) Synthetic biology could lead to an offence against nature

<br>3) Synthetic biology could lead to an offence against nature

<br>5) It is not always certain that the intentions of scientists are good, and there is concerns of misuse eg bioterrorism

<br>5) It is not always certain that the intentions of scientists are good, and there is concerns of misuse eg bioterrorism

<br>6) Synthetic biology could go really well or lead to some disasters

<br>6) Synthetic biology could go really well or lead to some disasters

<br><br><br><p>We found that there was a <b>loose correlation</b> between age and opinion of biotechnology.</p>

<br><br><br><p>We found that there was a <b>loose correlation</b> between age and opinion of biotechnology.</p>

<p> <i>A word map depicting the most popular words people associated with synthetic biology.</i> </p>  

<p> <i>A word map depicting the most popular words people associated with synthetic biology.</i> </p>