Stuck on Embryo Screening

I'm revising for my AQA GCSE B2 exam in Jan. and was wondering what the social economic and ethical issues concerning embryo screening were. Does anyone have any ideas?

Reply 1

AyelFior

I didn't take the exam you will be taking, but here are some ideas for the issues involved:

Ethical
- Once an embryo has been screened, what do you do with the data? Do the embryos have an inherited illness, or will eventually develop an illness? Do you allow the embryo to develop, or teminate it?
- Some people consider a developing embryo as a life, so if the embryo is terminated, this is potentially taking a life (i.e. murder).

Social
- If an embryo is screened and may develop illnesses, should the parents terminate the embryo? This may save the embryo from developing into a baby that will suffer from the illness (which some see as more humane), and also the heartbreak for the parents in having to deal with a child that is suffering.
- For late-onset diseases, such as Huntingdon's, should the embryo be allowed to develop into baby, who would eventually suffer from the disease, even though they lead perfectly normal lives up until developing the symptoms?

I'm not sure if these are the issues you're looking for, as I've no knowledge of your course syllabus. Hope it helps though!

Reply 2

Lumos24520

Not sure if this is what you're asking but this is for AQA additional B2:

pros:
• termination of pregnancies would reduce number of
people with the disease
• reduce health-care costs
• allows decision / emotional argument,
eg allows people to make choices about termination

cons:
• possible damage- risk to embryo
• possible harm and risk to mother
• may have to make ethical / moral / religious decisions