6.1.18

Genome Screening

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Embryonic Screening

Embryonic screening is a form of genome screening. We can screen a person's genome to look for genes that may make that person susceptible (vulnerable) to genetic disorders. The advantages of embryonic screening are:

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Prevent suffering

  • It could prevent people from suffering from genetic disorders.
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IVF embryos

  • During IVF, most embryos are surplus to requirements anyway.
  • In this case, screening would merely ensure that the implanted embryos are healthy.
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Financial saving

  • A reduction in disorders that need to be treated would save a significant amount of money in the long-term.

Disadvantages of Embryonic Screening

Although embryonic screening has advantages, it also has disadvantages:

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Parents become selective

  • If mismanaged, this technology could become a way for parents to select the most desirable embryo as their child-to-be.
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Expensive

  • In the short-term, screening is an expensive process.
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Discrimination

  • There is the potential that defining the desirability of an embryo based on their genetic make-up could promote discrimination.
    • i.e. people born without the use of screening could be considered second-class citizens.
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Ethics

  • The embryos that are not used are destroyed. This can be considered unethical or against religious views.

Jump to other topics

1Cell Biology

1.1What's in Cells?

1.2Cell Division

1.3Transport in Cells

2Organisation

2.1Principles of Organisation

2.2Enzymes

2.3Circulatory System

2.4Non-Communicable Diseases

2.5Plant Tissues, Organs & Systems

3Infection & Response

4Bioenergetics

5Homeostasis & Response

5.1Homeostasis

5.2The Human Nervous System

5.3Hormonal Coordination in Humans

5.4Plant Hormones

6Inheritance, Variation & Evolution

7Ecology

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