Students should be able to explain the potential benefits and risks of…

The idea

Genetic engineering can bring benefits and risks, and people hold different views about it. In agriculture, benefits include crops resistant to disease, improved yields and better fruit quality, which can help food supply. Risks include genes spreading to wild plants, reduced biodiversity, and effects on non-target organisms. In medicine, benefits include reliable production of human insulin and other treatments, while risks include possible side effects, high cost, and ethical concerns about altering genomes. Some people object on religious or ethical grounds, or because they worry about long-term effects and unequal access. A balanced answer explains both sides and recognises that evidence and values both influence decisions.

What earns the marks

• Benefits of genetic engineering in agriculture, such as disease resistance, higher yield and better fruit quality.
• Risks of genetic engineering in agriculture, such as gene transfer to wild plants, reduced biodiversity or effects on other organisms.
• Benefits of genetic engineering in medicine, such as reliable production of human insulin and other treatments.
• Risks of genetic engineering in medicine, such as side effects, cost or ethical concerns about altering genomes.
• Some people object to genetic engineering on ethical, religious or environmental grounds.
• A balanced evaluation weighs benefits against risks and recognises that decisions involve both evidence and values.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Listing only benefits or only risks.

  Put it right by giving at least one benefit and one risk for each context.

• Treating all objections as unscientific.

  Put it right by recognising ethical, religious and environmental reasons as valid viewpoints.

• Confusing a risk with a proven harm.

  Put it right by describing risks as possible outcomes that may or may not occur.

Exam tips

• Structure your answer by context: agriculture first, then medicine, with benefits and risks for each.
• Use words such as may, could and potential to show that risks are not certainties.
• Include a clear statement that some people object, and give a reason for the objection.