Student Worksheet
To accompany '‘Breast cancer gene free baby’
From the Video
1. Briefly explain the science of genetic egg transplantation.
2. Why did the baby's parents decide to screen embryos for the breast cancer gene?
3. How do critics see this technology?
Thinking Deeper
- Imagine someone is seeking to have pre-implantation genetic diagnosis for a disease that will affect their baby from birth. Would you recommend that they are allowed to do this? Why or why not?
- Breast cancer caused by known genes has ‘incomplete penetrance’ (i.e. not everyone with those genes will actually suffer the disease.) It is also unlikely to affect the woman until she is 40 or older. Does this differ from the situation in question 1? Why or why not?
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