Gene editing in animals: What does the public want to know?

We aimed to describe the questions people pose about gene editing (GE) in animals as a novel approach to understanding public knowledge of GE. We also compared our participants’ questions with those listed on Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) webpages hosted by GE organizations. Participants (338 US residents) most frequently asked questions centered on seeking general information about GE and about animal welfare (29% and 26% of all questions asked, respectively). In contrast, organizational FAQs primarily focused on regulations (32% of FAQs posed and answered on these webpages). The actual questions people asked provide data on the variable knowledge they bring to the topic and illustrate that people are curious about a range of related issues. We conclude that acknowledging the actual questions that the public bring to the debate around technology use can be used to advance public engagement efforts.