Poll Shows We Want Those DNA Breakthroughs But Worry Scientists May Be 'Playing God'

Most Americans are excited about the possibility of scientific breakthroughs brought by DNA research, a new HuffPost/YouGov poll finds. But the poll also shows that many people worry that the research could go too far -- and lead to scientists "playing God."

In the new poll, 71 percent of Americans said that they're excited about the possibility that DNA research could bring major scientific and medical breakthroughs. But 44 percent said they worry that DNA research involves unforeseen dangers. Thirty-three percent of Americans said they were both excited and worried.

Although the poll shows that optimism about the possibilities opened up by genetic research outweighs pessimism about potential ill effects, it also shows there are limits to where Americans think that research should lead.

Take the idea of cloning extinct species. By a 55 percent to 27 percent margin, most respondents said they were against the idea -- proposed by some in the scientific community -- of resurrecting woolly mammoths and other long-extinct creatures.

Americans seem even more wary about using DNA research with the goal of creating “designer babies.”...