Students should make informed judgements about the economic, social and…

The idea

Embryo screening involves testing embryos produced by IVF for alleles linked to inherited disorders before implantation. Economic points include the cost of screening and long-term treatment, and who pays. Social points include reducing suffering, parental choice, and possible pressure on families. Ethical points include the moral status of embryos, discarding affected embryos, designer babies, and disability rights. A strong answer considers benefits and drawbacks, uses the information provided, and reaches a clear conclusion.

For example: Screening could prevent a child being born with cystic fibrosis, but some people object to discarding embryos or to selecting characteristics.

What earns the marks

• Identify economic issues such as the cost of embryo screening, the cost of lifelong treatment for a disorder, and who bears those costs.
• Discuss social issues such as reducing suffering in families, giving parents informed choice, and the possible emotional or social pressure to use screening.
• Discuss ethical issues such as the moral status of embryos, the discarding of affected embryos, and concerns about selecting embryos for particular characteristics.
• Use the information provided in the question rather than relying only on general opinion, and refer to specific details from that information.
• Reach an informed judgement by weighing benefits against drawbacks and stating a clear, justified conclusion.
• Recognise that different people may reach different judgements because they hold different ethical or religious views, and that both views can be reasonable.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Listing only advantages or only disadvantages.

  Put it right: Address both sides and then make a balanced judgement.

• Confusing embryo screening with gene therapy.

  Put it right: Embryo screening tests and selects embryos, whereas gene therapy alters the genes of a living person.

• Giving an unsupported opinion without using the information supplied.

  Put it right: Quote or paraphrase the given information and link each point to it.

Exam tips

• Plan two or three economic, social and ethical points before writing, then give a final judgement that follows from those points.
• Use connectives such as however, therefore and this suggests to show weighing rather than listing.
• Refer explicitly to the information in the question, for example by naming a cost or a condition mentioned there.