According to the poll, most Russians consider biological novelties useless or even unethical

Russians are cautious about modern technologies, including biomedicine achievements in biomedicine, suggests a poll conducted by the Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge (ISSEK) of the Higher School of Economics (HSE) as part of the Monitoring Survey of Innovative Behavior of the Population.

Those polled neither completely reject, nor accept novelties and consider the interference in human's life deprecated, according to Yury Voynilov and Valentina Polyakova, HSE ISSEK researchers.

"The most cautious attitude has been demonstrated by respondents to biotechnologies implying the intervention into the human life and activities by means of stem cells, gene engineering, or implantable devices. These ideas have gained between 22 and 31% of popularity," experts say.

Some 50% of respondents said they are ready to use such technologies as domestic solar cells, smog sensors, and smart clothing.

According to the poll, most Russians consider biological novelties useless or even unethical. At the same time, they are concerned about the problems, which can be solved using innovations, according to HSE ISSEK researchers.

For example, 78% of those polled are anxious about the birth of children with transmittable diseases, but only 30% said they are ready to take genetic tests.

About 90% of respondents are worried about air and water pollution, but only 48% of them said they would like to use pollution alert sensor.

The HSE Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge polled 1,671 Russians over 16 in 137 settlements across the country.

Provided by National Research University Higher School of Economics