Attitudes of the Ecuadorian University Community Toward Genetically Modified Organisms
Introduction: The acceptance of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) by the civilian population in Ecuador is a controversial issue, where beliefs and practices are determinant. In Ecuador, the use of GMOs for research or productive purposes has been banned since 2008; however, the current position...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2021.801891/full |
| _version_ | 1818296820546142208 |
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| author | Carlos Román Collazo Karen Chacha Guerrero Tatiana Loja Mejia Diego Andrade Campoverde Yenima Hernández Rodriguez |
| author_facet | Carlos Román Collazo Karen Chacha Guerrero Tatiana Loja Mejia Diego Andrade Campoverde Yenima Hernández Rodriguez |
| author_sort | Carlos Román Collazo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: The acceptance of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) by the civilian population in Ecuador is a controversial issue, where beliefs and practices are determinant. In Ecuador, the use of GMOs for research or productive purposes has been banned since 2008; however, the current position of the population toward this technology is unknown.Objective: The aim of the study was to explain the attitude toward GMOs in the Ecuadorian university population based on sociodemographic variables, knowledge, beliefs, practices, and bioethical approach.Methods: A validated survey was applied to 719 students and teachers of the Catholic University of Cuenca through Google Forms. The collected data were processed using SPSS 23.0 software. Multivariate and linear regression analyses were used to explain the attitude toward GMOs based on the variables studied.Results: Partial approval of GMO use is research-oriented, with a rejection toward food. The linear regression model explained 65% of the variance of attitude toward GMOs from the beliefs, practices, knowledge, and bioethical approach variables. The sociodemographic variables were completely excluded from the model due to the absence of statistical significance.Conclusions: The incipient acceptance of GMOs in the academic sector corroborates a transformation in the thinking of Ecuadorian civil society. Considerations on the use of GMOs are supported by a bioethical approach that leans toward a pragmatic utilitarianism based on the immediate or mediate benefits of the technology. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T04:09:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d419493f52c44e6f9a1ae02a6b324da2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-4185 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T04:09:37Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology |
| spelling | doaj.art-d419493f52c44e6f9a1ae02a6b324da22022-12-22T00:00:07ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology2296-41852022-02-01910.3389/fbioe.2021.801891801891Attitudes of the Ecuadorian University Community Toward Genetically Modified OrganismsCarlos Román Collazo0Karen Chacha Guerrero1Tatiana Loja Mejia2Diego Andrade Campoverde3Yenima Hernández Rodriguez4Faculty of Biochemistry and Pharmacy, Catholic University of Cuenca, Cuenca, EcuadorFaculty of Biochemistry and Pharmacy, Catholic University of Cuenca, Cuenca, EcuadorFaculty of Biochemistry and Pharmacy, Catholic University of Cuenca, Cuenca, EcuadorFaculty of Biochemistry and Pharmacy, Catholic University of Cuenca, Cuenca, EcuadorFaculty of Clinical Psychology, Universidad Católica de Cuenca, Cuenca, EcuadorIntroduction: The acceptance of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) by the civilian population in Ecuador is a controversial issue, where beliefs and practices are determinant. In Ecuador, the use of GMOs for research or productive purposes has been banned since 2008; however, the current position of the population toward this technology is unknown.Objective: The aim of the study was to explain the attitude toward GMOs in the Ecuadorian university population based on sociodemographic variables, knowledge, beliefs, practices, and bioethical approach.Methods: A validated survey was applied to 719 students and teachers of the Catholic University of Cuenca through Google Forms. The collected data were processed using SPSS 23.0 software. Multivariate and linear regression analyses were used to explain the attitude toward GMOs based on the variables studied.Results: Partial approval of GMO use is research-oriented, with a rejection toward food. The linear regression model explained 65% of the variance of attitude toward GMOs from the beliefs, practices, knowledge, and bioethical approach variables. The sociodemographic variables were completely excluded from the model due to the absence of statistical significance.Conclusions: The incipient acceptance of GMOs in the academic sector corroborates a transformation in the thinking of Ecuadorian civil society. Considerations on the use of GMOs are supported by a bioethical approach that leans toward a pragmatic utilitarianism based on the immediate or mediate benefits of the technology.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2021.801891/fullattitudesgenetically modified organismsbiotechnologytransgenicgenetic engineering |
| spellingShingle | Carlos Román Collazo Karen Chacha Guerrero Tatiana Loja Mejia Diego Andrade Campoverde Yenima Hernández Rodriguez Attitudes of the Ecuadorian University Community Toward Genetically Modified Organisms Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology attitudes genetically modified organisms biotechnology transgenic genetic engineering |
| title | Attitudes of the Ecuadorian University Community Toward Genetically Modified Organisms |
| title_full | Attitudes of the Ecuadorian University Community Toward Genetically Modified Organisms |
| title_fullStr | Attitudes of the Ecuadorian University Community Toward Genetically Modified Organisms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Attitudes of the Ecuadorian University Community Toward Genetically Modified Organisms |
| title_short | Attitudes of the Ecuadorian University Community Toward Genetically Modified Organisms |
| title_sort | attitudes of the ecuadorian university community toward genetically modified organisms |
| topic | attitudes genetically modified organisms biotechnology transgenic genetic engineering |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2021.801891/full |
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