Fig 1.A. Beagle Image. B. Image data interpretation.
Figure 2.A. shows an image of Dr Jay Vacanti work of successful growth of a human ear from cartilage cells on the back of a mouse. Image B shows that 29% of people associated the image with synthetic biology, and 71% associated it with genetic modification.
Fig 2.A Dr Vacanti's appendage donor mouse image. B. Image data interpretation
Figure 3.A. shows an image of a wild African bush elephant. Image B shows that 100% of people recognised it was natural.
Fig 3.A Wild Elephant image. B. Image data interpretation
Figure 4.A. shows an image of a agar plate containing e.coli cells transformed with and expressing green fluorescence protein (GFP). Image B shows 40% of people considered the image to be synthetic biology, and 60% thought it was genetic modification
Fig 4.A E.coli expressing GFP image. B. Image data interpretation
Figure 5.A. shows an image of purple tomatoes, which scientists have developed which may boost health due to their anti-cancer properties. Image B shows how 92% of people understood the purple tomatoes to be genetically modified, whereas 8% thought it was synthetic biology.
Fig 5.A Purple Tomatoes image. B. Image data interpretation
Interviews
For our human practices we decided to answer the question "Is synthetic biology feared"? This was investigated by conducting small interviews in order to explore whether the topic of synthetic biology is feared and if so the reasons behind these fears.
In order to collect quantitative data, we showed participants the following images during an interview and asks them to determine whether they perceived the image as being under synthetic biology, genetic modification, natural, or a combination of both.
Figure 1.A shows a Tricolour Beagle dog, which was selectively bred to give the modern breed. Image B shows that 86% of the people we interviewed perceived the Beagle to be natural. However, 14% concluded it may also be genetically modified in terms of selective breeding, although does not involve the introduction of genes from a different species.
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