Inherited disorders and embryo screening

Question 1

What is an inherited disorder?

Answer 1

• A group of conditions passed on in alleles
• Inherited from parents

Question 2

Explain polydactly

Answer 2

• A person is born with extra fingers or toes
• Doesn’t cause any other disease or damge in the body
• Can be removed via surgery
• Dominant allele: only one needed to be expressed

Question 3

Explain cystic fibrosis

Answer 3

• Problem in the cell membrane which causes build up of thick, sticky mucus in different parts of the body (lungs and digestive system)
• Recessive allele: can have allele but still won’t be expressed (carrier)

Question 4

What is embryo scanning?

Answer 4

• Looking at an embryo’s genes to see if it is carrying genetic disorders

Question 5

Embryo scanning pros and cons

Answer 5

• Pros:
• Reduce overall suffering and save money (money not required to treat disorder)
• Cons:
• Future screening for other traits
• Creates prejudice as believed that people with disorders are unwanted