PREAMBLE

Thank you for visiting the Representing Genes survey!

This survey is part of a project funded by the National Science Foundation

and the University of Pittsburgh to examine how concepts of the gene and

of gene action are evolving to fit current knowledge of the complexities

of genomic structure, of gene regulation, of post-transcriptional

processing and of development. We aim to sample as wide a range as possible

of researchers who confront these findings and their further theoretical

and technological implications in their work. Your membership of the

scientific institution who directed you to this site suggests that you can

provide us with valuable input.

We appreciate your taking the time to complete this survey (which should

take less than 30 minutes) and at the end of the survey we invite you to

download a personalized certificate of appreciation

We also believe that some of the facts and findings you will encounter in

this survey may be of further interest to you and at the end of the survey

there is an opportunity to request an annotated bibliography on the

scientific background to the questions.

The results of this survey will be returned to the research community via

publication in scientific journals. At the end of the survey there is an

opportunity to request notification of these publications when they appear.

The results will also be used as the basis for further studies comparing

how various groups of researchers understand the key concepts of genetics

and molecular biology and the ideas of various 'consumers' of research,

including science journalists, public policymakers, bioethicists and the

general public.

To continue with the Survey, please click the NEXT button at the bottom of

this page.

Thank you once again, and we hope you find some of the questions stimulating.

Paul E. Griffiths

Karola C. Stotz