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Russians do not trust modern biomedical technologies — poll

According to the poll, most Russians consider biological novelties useless or even unethical

MOSCOW, May 25. /TASS/. Russians are cautious about modern technologies, including biomedicine achievements in biomedicine, suggests a poll conducted by the Higher School of Economics (HSE).

Those polled neither completely reject, nor accept novelties and consider the interference in human's life deprecated, the HSE press service said.

"The most cautious attitude has been demonstrated by respondents to biotechnologies implying the intervention into the human life and activities by means of stem cells, gene engineering, or implantable devices. These ideas have gained between 22 and 31% of popularity," HSE said.

Some 50% of respondents said they are ready to use such technologies as domestic solar cells, smog sensors, and smart clothing.

According to the poll, most Russians consider biological novelties useless or even unethical. At the same time, they are concerned about the problems, which can be solved using innovations, HSE said.

For example, 78 of those polled are anxious about the birth of children with transmittable diseases, but only 30% said they are ready to take genetic tests.

About 90% of respondents are worried about air and water pollution, but only 48% of them said they would like to use pollution alert sensor.

The HSE Institutes of Statistic Research polled 1,671 Russians over 16 in 137 settlements across the country.