Section 4: Inheritance

Are other features inherited in the same way?

Can some conditions be passed on in families?

Candidates should:
(i) Understand that some mutations cause conditions which may be passed on in families, as shown by the mechanism of inheritance of cystic fibrosis, and be able to interpret family trees.

Section 8: Health

How can ill health be treated?

Are there ethical issues involved with these treatments and how should decisions be made?

Candidates should:
(a) Know that health is affected by a variety of factors and that science and technology may provide the answer to some health problems.
(c) Know that gene therapy has been tried but there are difficulties in targeting the appropriate cells. It has been used to alleviate symptoms in Cystic Fibrosis sufferers but is not a cure for the underlying genetic condition and there may be side effects.
(d) Discuss the implications of genetic counselling and the ethical problems posed by an individual's prior knowledge of a genetic trait.