Understanding the public’s intention to adopt CRISPR-Cas9: the effect of beliefs, knowledge, and innovativeness

CRISPR-Cas9 is a gene editing technology with wide-ranging medical potential and significant ethical implications. This study examined how personality traits, familiarity with CRISPR, knowledge about CRISPR, and beliefs concerning its applications are connected to the public’s willingness to adopt this technology, drawing on Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovations framework. A sample of 500 young adults aged 20–45 completed questionnaires assessing innovativeness as well as familiarity, knowledge, beliefs, and willingness to adopt CRISPR-Cas9 for therapeutic and non-therapeutic purposes. Results showed that only 24% of participants were familiar with CRISPR and that knowledge levels were generally low. Based on Rogers’ typology, 18.8% were identified as innovators, and 26.8% as early adopters, and only 3.2% as laggards. Beliefs were strongly associated with willingness to adopt CRISPR-Cas9 (r = .63, p < .001), moderating the weak associations of personality traits with adoption intentions. These findings suggest that beliefs are an important factor in CRISPR-Cas9 adoption and they appear to have more influence on willingness to adopt CRISPR-Cas9 than knowledge and innovativeness in this sample. Efforts to promote informed public discussion on CRISPR should be made, with an emphasis on ethical aspects alongside scientific information. This is critical for the responsible adoption of this technology.