Choosing Your Baby

a survey for
Anthropology ****
Human Variation and Adaptation

The purpose of this survey is to sample SWT student attitudes about using information such as the Human Genome Project and gene splicing, commonly referred to as "genetic engineering," to affect their future offspring.

First, the survey. Please complete the following survey:

  1. If it were possible would you choose your child's:
    1. height?      YES     NO

    2. sex?          YES     NO
    3. eye color? YES     NO
      If yes what color?   Gray
                                    Blue
                                    Green
                                    Hazel
                                    Brown
                                    Black

    4. Skin Color?    YES    NO

      If 'yes,' select answer that applies:
                              lighter skin color
                              same skin color
                              darker skin color


    5. Artistic ability?  YES     NO
    6. Math ability?     YES     NO
    7. Athletic ability? YES     NO
    8. Temperament? YES NO
    9. Handedness? YES NO
      If 'yes,' select answer that applies:
      left-handed
      right-handed
      ambidextrous


    10. Extended Lifespan? YES NO
    11. Immunity to AIDS? YES NO
    12. Immunity to Cancer? YES NO
    13. Absence of Downs Syndrome? YES NO
    14. 20/20 vision? YES NO
    15. Perfect Hearing? YES NO
    16. Perfect Speech? YES NO

  2. Should genetic selection be: (Please check one)
    prohibited
    a completely personal choice
    encouraged by society; e.g., cost, if any, paid by insurance
    demanded by society; e.g., through laws
  3. If your child tested posative for a condition such as Down's Syndrome, would you consider an abortion?
    YES NO
    1. Check each of the following who should NOT be allowed to have children:
      families with incomes below the poverty line
      the homeless
      the mentally unstable
      those with Down's Syndrome
      habitual criminals
      those who would likely pass on a deadly disease to their kids
    2. If you checked any of the above how would you insure that those you checked would not have children?
    1. Would you be more willing to choose your children's characteristics if there were no expense involved?
      YES NO
    2. If there were expenses, what percent of a single year's income would you be willing to pay in order to choose your child's characteristics?
      less than 10%
      up to 25%
      up to 50%
      up to 75%
      up to 100%
  6. Is there any particular characteristic, that we didn't mention, that wou'd like to see in your child?

===============================================
Now tell us something about your self:
  1. What is your sex? MALE FEMALE
  2. What ethnic group or groups do you consider yourself primarily a member of?
    African
    American-Indian
    Asian
    Caucasian
    Hispanic
  3. What is your age? years
    1. What is your height? feet inches
    2. Do you consider yourself short, medium, or tall?
      short
      medium
      tall
  5. Do you have children? YES NO
  6. Are you right-handed, left-handed, or ambidextrous?
    right-handed
    left-handed
    ambidextrous
  7. What is your eye color?   
  8. Do you think that you have above average artistic ability? YES NO
  9. Do you think that you have above average mathematical ability? YES NO
  10. Do you think that you have above average athletic ability? YES NO
  11. What is your religious affiliation, if any?
  12. What is your major?


    Thank you for your time completing this survey. We appreciate it.