The top two perceived drawbacks to genetic research were unwanted adverse effects and unpleasant study procedures. Many expressed concerns about being injected with or ingesting unknown substances that may lead to unpleasant or harmful side effects. Similar fears have been cited as deterrents to participating in clinical trials of cancer and other serious medical illnesses (Outlaw, Bourjolly, & Barg, 2000). Some research has suggested that despite a lack of technical knowledge associated with advanced course-work in genetics, most people have enough knowledge of genetics that their concerns about genetic research ought to be taken seriously (Bates, Lynch, Bevan, & Condit, 2005).
