Throughout the module, candidates are introduced to genetic technologies that open up new possibilities for individuals and society. In doing so, they present significant ethical issues for citizens. Candidates explore some of the ideas people use to make ethical decisions. This enables them to engage with issues which regularly appear in the media, such as genetic testing, gene therapy and cloning research.

Issues covered in this module may be very sensitive for candidates.

Issues for Citizens: What is cloning, and should it be allowed?

Questions which science may help to answer: What are stem cells, and why could they be useful in treating some diseases?

Module B1.4: What are stem cells, and why could they be useful in treating some diseases?

3. Understand how clones of animals occur:

• naturally, when cells of an embryo separate (identical twins);
• artificially, when the nucleus from an adult body cell is transferred to an empty unfertilised egg cell;

4. Recall that embryonic stem cells are unspecialised cells that can develop into any type of cell;

5. Understand that there is the potential to use stem cells to treat some illnesses;

7. In the context of cloning embryos to produce large numbers of stem cells to treat illnesses, can:

• say clearly what the issue is;
• summarise different views that may be held;
• identify and develop arguments based on the ideas that:
  • The right decision is the one which leads to the best outcome for the majority of people involved;
  • Certain actions are never justified because they are unnatural or wrong

Module B5: Growth and Development

Module B5.3: How do new organisms develop from a single cell?

5. understand that, in carefully controlled conditions of mammalian cloning, it is possible to reactivate inactive genes in the nucleus of a body cell to form cells of all tissue types;

6. understand that adult and embryonic stem cells have the potential to produce cells needed to replace damaged tissues;