Module B1: You and Your Genes

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:

How and why do people find out about their genes? What decisions do people make with this information?
Can we change our genes, and should this be allowed?

Questions which Science may help to answer:

How can and should genetic information be used?
How can we use our knowledge of genes to prevent disease?

Module B1.3: How and can genetic information be used? How can we use our knowledge of genes to prevent disease?

7. Understand the implications of testing adults and foetuses for alleles which cause genetic disease, for example:

• Whether or not to have children at all;
• Whether or not a pregnancy should be terminated.

8. Understand the implications of testing embryos for embryo selection (Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis);

9. Understand the implications of the use of genetic testing by others, (for example, for genetic screening programmes, by employers and insurance companies);

11. In the context of genetic testing (when provided with additional information about the reliability and risks of genetic tests) or gene therapy be able to:

• distinguish questions which could be addressed using scientific approach, from questions which could not;
• 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;

12. in the context of use of genetic testing by others:

• can distinguish what can be done (technical feasibility), from what should be done (values);
• can explain why different courses of action may be taken in different social and environmental contexts

Module B7: Future Biology

In earlier modules candidates have considered some of the ethical implications for genetic testing.

Section B7.4: New Technologies

6. Explain the use of DNA technology in genetic testing:

• isolating DNA from white blood cells;
• production of gene probe;
• use of UV or autoradiography to locate gene probe;
• isolating DNA from white blood cells;
• production of gene probe;
• use of UV or autoradiography to locate gene probe