A surreal illustration of a DNA strand connecting people with cityscape and nature backgrounds.

Decoding DNA: What Does the Public Really Think About Genetics?

Lena Voss in Health & Wellness June 2025 • 4 min read.

"A deep dive into the public's attitudes, awareness, and knowledge of genetics and its increasing role in healthcare."

Genetics is no longer confined to research labs; it's rapidly becoming a vital component of modern medical practice and everyday life. From newborn screenings to personalized medicine, understanding how people perceive and think about genetics is crucial. Early studies revealed a mixed bag of attitudes, but how have these views evolved?

To answer this, a systematic review was conducted, meticulously examining 442 articles. Using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, the research focused on awareness, attitudes, knowledge, and risk perception among both the general population and specifically targeted groups.

After stringent criteria – focusing on studies from the last 5 years, conducted in the USA, involving non-provider populations, and reporting quantitative results – 51 articles were selected for in-depth thematic coding. This review aims to provide a baseline understanding from which to launch community-specific educational support and tools, acknowledging the increasing importance of community participation in genomic educational strategies.

Key Findings: Awareness, Attitudes, Knowledge, and Risk Perception

A surreal illustration of a DNA strand connecting people with cityscape and nature backgrounds.

The review revealed several important trends:

Awareness: Generally, awareness of genetics and genetic testing is relatively high among the studies reviewed. This suggests a growing familiarity with the field, possibly due to increased media coverage and public health initiatives.

Attitudes: Attitudes are mixed but trending positively. A significant proportion of respondents reported positive attitudes toward genetic testing and counseling, indicating an openness to utilizing these services. This is a crucial shift, as positive attitudes are fundamental for the successful integration of genetic technologies into healthcare.
Knowledge: Self-reported knowledge is reasonably high, especially when specific programs are in place to boost understanding. This highlights the effectiveness of targeted educational efforts in improving public literacy about genetics.
Perception of Risk: Perception of risk is somewhat aligned with actual risk. This suggests that people are, to some extent, able to assess the real dangers and benefits associated with genetic information.

Overall, the findings indicate a reasonably positive outlook regarding genetic awareness and knowledge. This is coupled with a similar positive attitude and perception of risk, reinforcing the importance of continued dissemination of accurate information. By fostering informed perspectives, communities can better engage with and benefit from advances in genomics.

Moving Forward: Community-Specific Educational Support

Given the increasing interest in incorporating community participation in genomic educational strategies, this review serves as a crucial foundation. It provides a baseline from which to launch community-specific educational supports and tools, ensuring that diverse perspectives are included in the broader genomics discussion. By understanding the current landscape of public perception, we can better tailor educational efforts to meet the unique needs of different communities and promote equitable access to genomic information and technologies.

About this Article -

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This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1007/s12687-018-0394-0, Alternate LINK

Title: What Do People Think About Genetics? A Systematic Review

Subject: Genetics (clinical)

Journal: Journal of Community Genetics

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Authors: Erin Lepoire, Baishakhi Basu, Lorelei Walker, Deborah J. Bowen

Published: 2018-11-07

Everything You Need To Know

What is the current level of public awareness regarding genetics?

Awareness of genetics and genetic testing is generally high, potentially due to increased media coverage and public health initiatives. This means that the public is becoming more familiar with the field, which is a positive sign for the integration of genetics into healthcare. High awareness forms a crucial base for understanding and acceptance of genetic technologies, making it easier to incorporate them into everyday life.

What are the general attitudes towards genetic testing and counseling?

Attitudes are mixed but trending positively towards genetic testing and counseling. This suggests an openness to utilizing these services, which is crucial for the successful integration of genetic technologies into healthcare. Positive attitudes are fundamental because they encourage people to engage with and benefit from advances in genomics. It implies that people are becoming more comfortable with the idea of using genetic information for their health.

How much does the public know about genetics?

Self-reported knowledge is reasonably high, particularly when specific programs are in place to boost understanding. This highlights the effectiveness of targeted educational efforts in improving public literacy about genetics. Increased knowledge empowers communities to better engage with and benefit from advances in genomics, fostering informed perspectives.

How do people perceive the risks associated with genetic information?

Perception of risk is somewhat aligned with actual risk. This suggests that people can assess the real dangers and benefits associated with genetic information. This alignment is important because it shows that the public is not completely misinformed and is able to make reasonable judgements based on available information. It indicates a level of understanding that supports informed decision-making in healthcare.

Why is community-specific educational support important in genomics?

Community-specific educational support is crucial for the widespread understanding and acceptance of genomics. The review provides a baseline for launching community-specific educational supports and tools. By understanding the current landscape of public perception, educational efforts can be tailored to meet the unique needs of different communities. This ensures equitable access to genomic information and technologies, promoting a broader understanding and acceptance of genetics in healthcare.