Inherited disorders & embryo screening

• Inherited disease

  A condition that can be passed on genetically through the inheritance of certain alleles
• Cystic fibrosis

  Inherited disorder of cell membranes

  Causes sticky mucus to build up in lungs and digestive system
• What does it mean for an individual to be a carrier of cystic fibrosis

  They are heterozygous and don’t have the condition but they can pass it onto their offspring
• PolydactyL

  Disorder in which an individual can be born with extra fingers or toes
• Embryo screening

  The process of taking a cell from an embryo and analysis its DNA for genetic abnormalities
• 2 advantages of embryo screening

  Can reduce suffering by stopping children from being born with genetic disorders

  Can save the country’s lot of money as treatment for inherited disorders is very expensive
• 3 disadvantages of embryo screening

  May imply that people with such disorders are undesirable

  Very expensive process

  People may being screening for less and less harmful conditions