Visual Representations of Genetic Engineering and Genetically Modified Organisms in the Online Media

Although images of biotechnology saturate the media, do they accurately portray the science and the process? A content analysis of web images collected over a seven-day period was conducted. The results show an abundance of visuals in personal and special interest group websites, stock photos, and cartoon banks. Images with a negative valence trounced those with a positive tone. The visuals presented a range of perspectives on genetic engineering, but many failed the accuracy test.