2. Polydactyly

Question 1

What is Polydactyly?

Answer 1

Polydactyly is when people have:

• EXTRA FINGERS or EXTRA TOES
• it is caused by a DOMINANT ALLELE - ie Pp will have Polydactyly
• You CAN’T be a CARRIER of Polydactyly (the same as having any dominant allele)

Question 2

What is a solution to INHERITED DISORDERS?

Answer 2

A solution to INHERITED DISORDERS IS:

• EMBRYO SCREENING
• Embryos that do not have INHERITED DISORDERS are IMPLANTED into the WOMEN = HEALTHY OFFSPRING
• Embryo Screening is EXPENSIVE - should NHS money be spent ELSEWHERE?
• Only healthy embryo are implanted the others are DESTROYED - is this ETHICAL (is it right to do this?)
• IN FUTURE might screen for DESIRABLE FEATURES - eg TALLER or more INTELLIGENT - (ETHICAL?)

Question 3

What is GENE THERAPY?

Answer 3

GENE THERAPY is:

• SCIENTISTS CORRECT FAULTY ALLELES used to TREAT INHERITED DISORDERS