“The medical potential is enticing, but the
technology raises biological and ethical concerns. Gene editing for human sperm, eggs and embryos could eliminate disease – but
also lead to designer babies”
Level of Difficulty: ***
FIRST WATCH AND LISTEN TO THE FOLLOWING:
NOW WATCH AND LISTEN TO THE FOLLOWING:
LAST OF ALL, WATCH AND LISTEN TO THE FOLLOWING:
QUESTIONS
1.
Which
of the following best expresses the main idea of the section as far as “Yes”,
or the introduction of the text?
·
Heritable
gene editing is a worthwhile venture
·
Heritable
gene editing is a fool-hardy venture
·
Heritable
gene editing is a rash venture
·
Heritable
gene editing is an inevitable venture
·
Heritable
gene editing is a controversial venture
·
Heritable
gene editing should progress slowly
·
Heritable
gene editing should progress carefully
·
Heritable
gene editing should be regulated
2.
Read
the section titled “YES: If evidence
shows the technique is safe and effective” and decide how many of the
following could best complete the sentence. Parents who carry gene mutations
for terrible heritable diseases …………………………………….
·
Now
have little option but to allow the disease to run its course
·
Now
have little option but to have no normal kids
·
Now
have no option but to resort to adoption and donation
·
Now
suffer due to unsatisfied psychological and physical needs
·
Now
remain dissatisfied with the solutions they are offered
3.
The
main disadvantage of the current policy in place to avoid having children with
heritable diseases is the fact that…………………………………………………….
4.
The
reason for the above is that………………………………………………………
5.
The
writer thinks we need to wait / we don’t need to wait until we
understand the whole human genome to conduct heritable gene editing because:
(Mark as many as you see fit)
·
Current
technology will allow us to edit for heritable diseases
·
We
have proved with past medical developments that we can do it
·
We
can check for one component without understanding the whole
·
Current
technology already allows us to screen for some diseases
6.
What
does “This” refer to in the phrase “This is far higher certainty…”?
7.
Which
adjective is wrong according to the information in the text? The writer feels
the use of gene editing to treat adults is:
·
Harder
·
Impossible
·
Riskier
·
Ineffective
8.
What
three things does the writer feel are necessary to be able to safely go ahead
with heritable gene editing?
9.
Now
read the section titled “NO: The biological risks and ethical concerns call for
caution”. The problem with reproductive gene editing for heritable diseases is
that: mark the answer that is wrong according to the text
·
Scientists
will have one shot to get it right
·
There
will be no room for error
·
The
alterations will be permanent
·
The
risks are far too great
·
The
implications of the changes are unpredictable
10.
Up
to now public and official reaction to the prospect of gene editing has been
positive/ negative.
11.
The
writer feels that there is no need to take unnecessary risks as there are……………
12.
What
is the alternative suggested for heritable gene editing?
13.
There
are various personal drawbacks of this alternative listed in the text. Can you
think of another one with wider ethical implications?
14.
What
would be the social implications of possible “offspring upgrades”?
15.
What
is the scientific argument against genetic enhancement of any kind?
16.
The
writer trusts/ doesn’t trust officials to be able to successfully
regulate gene editing.
WRITING TASK
Draw on all you have read and
listened to in order to form an opinion concerning heritable gene editing and
write an argumentative essay in which you defend your own opinion and refute
the counter arguments.
SHOULD HERITABLE GENE EDITING BE USED ON HUMANS? KEY AND TEACHERS’ NOTES
What was once a farfetched dream has now become
a distinct possibility thanks to advances in genetics: we may be able to edit
genes to get rid of heritable conditions. Is the trepidation with which some
approach the topic plain old paranoia and are they standing in the way of an
enormous scientific breakthrough or do they have a point? Should we leave
nature alone diseases and all, or should we try and tip the balance in our
favor? This fascinating text will set out all the arguments and hopefully give
students a chance to reach a decision.
- Heritable gene editing is a
controversial venture
- 3, 4, and 5
3.
Embryos
are destroyed
4.
Editing
would be done on sperm or egg cells
5.
All
are correct
6.
The
fact that the latest versions of gene-editing enzymes have zero detectable off
target activities
7.
Impossible
8.
Regulation,
discussion and monitoring
9.
The
risks are far too great. The fact that the risks are unacceptable doesn’t
necessarily mean they are great. Sometimes a very small risk is unacceptable.
10.
Negative
11.
Safer
ways
12.
Pre
implantation genetic diagnosis
13.
Some
unused embryos will be discarded
14.
The
emergence of genetic haves and have-nots, with new forms of discrimination and
inequality
15.
One
genetic risk is generally traded for another (a gene that confers one
biological risk might also protect against another)
16.
Doesn’t
trust
