Adults who know more about science are less afraid of eating GMOs, study says

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An individual's science knowledge is a "significant factor" in whether or not he or she believes it's safe to eat genetically modified foods, a Pew Research study finds. Adults who are more "science literate" than their peers are also more comfortable with the use of bioengineered organs for human transplant as well as the consumption of foods grown with pesticides:

The Pew study was intended to make sense of underlying patterns in public views about science. Researchers discovered that results were affected by political ideology, religion, education level, age, race and ethnicity, and gender. Men, for example, feel more favorably about eating GMOs than women do; women, on the other hand, more strongly oppose animal testing in research. The study — and all of the results — are available on the Pew Research Center's website.

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.