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Lay people's understanding of and preference against the word “mutation”
Author(s) -
Condit Celeste M.,
Dubriwny Tasha,
Lynch John,
Parrott Roxanne
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
american journal of medical genetics part a
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.064
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1552-4833
pISSN - 1552-4825
DOI - 10.1002/ajmg.a.30264
Subject(s) - mutation , preference , term (time) , sample (material) , population , psychology , genetics , biology , medicine , gene , environmental health , statistics , mathematics , physics , chemistry , chromatography , quantum mechanics
Lay understandings of the term “mutation” are explored using three methodologies and three population bases. A community based sample (n = 848) employing a written survey to assess knowledge and understanding indicated good lay understanding of the basic concept of mutation. However, lay people associated mutation with reproductive outcomes, but not with changes in genes across the life span. A student sample (n = 241) employed a written survey to assess connotations of the term mutation. It showed a strong negative response to mutation. A community based sample (n = 120) employing focus groups also showed strong negative reactions to the term mutation and rejection of use of the term mutation in public service announcements (PSAs). The term variation had better response and is recommended as an alternative in genetic counseling and public media. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.