Genetic testing for family planning
I can explain how genetic testing can be used in family planning, and discuss the difficult decisions parents may have to make.
Genetic testing for family planning
I can explain how genetic testing can be used in family planning, and discuss the difficult decisions parents may have to make.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Some alleles are associated with conditions that affect people’s health (e.g. cystic fibrosis).
- Prospective parents can be tested for these alleles, as can embryos (embryo screening).
- A fetus can be tested for these alleles (e.g. by chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis).
- Tests can have false negative or false positive results, and risks of miscarriage or infection.
- Parents must be supported to interpret test results, consider ethical questions and make difficult personal decisions.
Keywords
Allele - different version of a gene, which can produce a different characteristic in the organism’s phenotype
Genetic testing - processes that look for the presence of particular alleles in the DNA of an organism’s genome
Carrier - a person with one copy of a recessive allele (they won’t show the characteristic but can pass the allele to their offspring)
Probability - the likelihood that something will happen, which can be calculated as a decimal number between 0 and 1
Ethical question - a question about whether something is right or wrong
Common misconception
Thinking that abortion is the only option following a positive genetic test result during pregnancy.
The lesson explores the various options and support that are available to parents who have a high probability of passing on alleles that can affect their child's health.
To help you plan your year 11 biology lesson on: Genetic testing for family planning, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 biology lesson on: Genetic testing for family planning, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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Explore more key stage 4 biology lessons from the Gene technology unit, dive into the full secondary biology curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
a section of DNA that codes for a particular protein
the molecule that carries genetic information in living organisms
a structure formed from coiled DNA found in the nucleus of a cell
a version of a gene that can result in different characteristics