Topic 15-Genetic Disorders And Gene Therapy

Question 0

Give an example of a genetic disorder?

Answer 0

Cystic fibrosis, where the lungs and digestive system are clogged with thick mucus.

Question 1

What can a mutation result in?

Answer 1

A faulty gene, as a result the body doesn’t function properly. The person has a genetic disorder which can also be inherited by descendants.

Question 2

What causes Cystic fibrosis?

Answer 2

The recessive allele

Question 3

What do heterozygous people show?

Answer 3

(Nn) they show no symptoms of cystic fibrosis

Question 4

What do homozygous people show?

Answer 4

(nn) They have cystic fibrosis. They will have received a cystic fibrosis allele from both parents.

Question 5

Can heterozygotes pass cystic fibrosis allele to their children?

Answer 5

Yes, they are called carriers.

Question 6

What are some of the issues surrounding gene therapy?

Answer 6

1) The patient would need regular treatment, because the treatments being trialled involved altering the genes of specific cells, however modified cells will die and be replaced with faulty ones again
2) The trail hasn’t been successful.
3) Treatment would be very expensive.
4) If the genes can be replaced un embryos, the change would be permanent. This cold allow unscrupulous people to swap genes that a are nothing to do with disease (e.g. Controlling what eye colour their child had) and create designer babies.
5) People with genetic disorders don’t like the term disease because they think it devalues them.

Question 7

What happens if gene therapy works?

Answer 7

If successful, gene therapy has the potential to save many lives and improve the quality of people’s lives.