INHERITED DISORDERS AND EMBRYO SCREENING

• POLYDACTYLY:

  • Extra FINGERS / TOES
  • Caused by a DOMINANT ALLELE (e.g. Pp NOT pp- cannot be a CARRIER)
• CYSTIC FIBROSIS:

  • DISORDER of the cell MEMBRANE
  • MUCUS build-up
  • Caused by RECESSIVE ALLELES (e.g. cc, but if Cc- can be a CARRIER)
• EMBRYO SCREENING:

  • Embryos are TESTED to see if the ALLELES for INHERITED disorders are PRESENT
  • Embryos without- IMPLANTED into WOMAN
• ISSUES:

  • EXPENSIVE - money could be spent elsewhere in NHS
  • Large number of embryos CREATED, small number IMPLANTED (many HEALTHY embryos are DESTROYED) This is UNETHICAL
  • Screening can be used to give embryos DESIRABLE FEATURES e.g. taller, smarter