Genetic Engineering Flashcards

Pregunta	Respuesta
What are the pros of genetic engineering on crops?	Would produce a greater yield. reduction of fertilisers. Food has better taste, quality. Conserves soil, water & energy. Offers the best chance to reduce the world hunger
What are the cons of using genetic engineering on crops?	Unknown long term health implications. Impact on the environment is unknown. Concerns about the effects on the wildlife that eat the crops. Cross-pollination
Pros of using genetic engineering on animals? In reference to Dolly the Sheep.	less prone to disease. healthier. provide better quality of food. increased profits for farmers
Cons of using genetic engineering on animals - in reference to Dolly the sheep.	Body aged quicker than expected. Small minority of eggs were viable
Explain embryo research	It is legal in Britain. Up to 14 days the embryo has little to suggest the properties of a human being.
What is the aim of embryo research?	To find cures for serious illnesses using tissues or cells from embryos.
What is not allowed in embryo research?	A human embryo cannot be placed in an animal. Embryos must not be experimented on past 14 days. The genetic structure of any cell cannot be altered whilst it is part of an embryo. Human cloning is not allowed.
In what ways is embryo research allowed?	To promote advances in the treatment of infertility To increase knowledge about the causes of congenital disease. To increase knowledge about the causes of miscarriages. To develop more effective techniques of contraception. To develop methods for detecting the presence of gene or chromosome abnormalities
What do those opposed to embryo research say?	Wrong to use a human being or any part of them in this way. A human life is sacred and should not be taken away An embryo is human as it has the potential to develop into a unique person. Playing with God.
What do those in favour of embryo research say?	Anything which benefits humanity must be good. An embryo at this stage doesn't count as a human being.
Explain what goes on in genetic testing	Scientists have created test for various genetic diseases. Patients have to agree to the tests and understand the implications of the tests. Gene testing gives only a probability of developing the disorder. Possibility of laboratory error.
What might Genetic screening lead too?	The abortion of a foetus which has a genetic flaw. This may prevent the child pain and suffering but would raise the question on what 'normal' is.
What does genetic screening allow doctors to do?	Allows doctors to screen embryos for genetic disorders and then to select healthy embryos to then put back in the womb.
What do people fear about genetic selection?	That it may lead to modifying embryo's and certain desirable attributes creating 'designer babies' The idea of 'designer babies' involves the destruction of unwanted or unsuitable embryos.
Why would the destruction of embryo's be opposed?	As if they are seen as persons from contraception then they therefore have intrinsic dignity and value that cannot be compromised.
In an increasingly materialistic society, what is happening?	The baby is being treated as a commodity and so just being used as a donor or to fulfil parental desires.
Why are most medical practitioners against the idea of modifying embryos?	As they do not feel it is a suitable reason to modify embryos for cosmetic reasons. However, they feel differently about modifying embryos to remove the risk of life-threatening genetic conditions.
What is germ line therapy's aim/	To cure or ultimately prevent disease by changing genes.
What's the problem with germ line therapy?	The science is only in its infancy. It's only experimental.
Where is gene alteration targeted?	To body cells in which the patient's genome is changed or to germ (Egg and sperm) cells
What happens to the parent's sperm and egg cells in germ line therapy?	they are changed with the aim of passing on the changes to future generations.
Why is germ line therapy questionable?	As it could change the whole of humanity and mean that we take care of our own evolution.
Explain stem cell research	Stem cells are cells that have the potential to grow into different kinds of cells.
What happens to adult stem cells?	They are taken away from a particular part of the body and have the ability to grow into the cells of the organ they were taken from.
Why could adult stem cells be useful in medicine?	As they are able to be removed and so could be grown in a lab and then put back in the same person to replace damaged or diseased body tissue. They wouldn't be rejected as the cells came from that person originally.

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