Year 10 Science · Unit 1 · Lesson 10

Ethics of Genetic Technologies

Foundation Worksheet

Name

Date

Class

Learning Goals

Match six bioethics terms to their definitions accurately.
Sort ten genetic technology applications by ethical concern level and justify each.
Identify the roles of OGTR and FSANZ in regulating genetic technologies in Australia.

Warm Up

Sort it!

Write each application from the pool into the correct ethical concern category. For each item you place in Moderate or High, add a brief reason in the box.

GM insulin production Germline editing of embryos for disease prevention DNA profiling of crime scene evidence Selecting embryo sex for non-medical reasons Bt cotton in Australian farms Employer-required genetic testing for jobs Gene drive to eliminate disease-carrying mosquitoes Storing DNA profiles of convicted criminals in a national database Golden Rice to address vitamin A deficiency Choosing non-medical traits (e.g. eye colour) in embryos

Low ethical concern

Moderate ethical concern

High ethical concern

Your Turn

Match each term to its definition

Draw a line connecting each bioethics term to its correct definition. Or write the matching letter next to each term.

Term	Your answer	Definition
Bioethics		A. The right of individuals to make their own informed decisions about their bodies and health.
Beneficence		B. The study of ethical issues arising from advances in biology and medicine.
Autonomy		C. The fair distribution of the benefits and risks of a technology across all members of society.
Justice		D. The ethical principle of acting to do good and in the best interests of others.
Consent		E. A term for an embryo genetically edited or selected for non-medical traits such as appearance.
Designer baby		F. Voluntary agreement given after being fully informed of the risks and potential benefits.

Show What You Know

1. Name the two Australian government bodies responsible for regulating GM organisms and GM food safety respectively, and briefly describe the role of each.

Recall 2 marks

2. Explain why "consent" is a major ethical problem when it comes to germline editing of embryos to prevent disease.

Recall 2 marks

Wrap Up

In one sentence, why is ethics in science about more than just having a personal opinion?