If you could stop someone from

committing crimes by

changing their DNA would you

do it?

Would your opinion change if

this was done before the child

was born?

Term 1: Religion: Rights & Responsibilities

1. Bible Basis For Moral Decisions

2. Authority Of Church

Moral Decisions

3. Conscience As Guide

Moral Decisions

4. Situation Ethics Guide

Making Moral Decisions

5. Why Christians Variety Of Authorities

Moral Decisions

6. Why Human Rights Are

Important For Christians

9. Christian Teachings Moral

Duties & Responsibilities8. Assessment

7. Revision 10. Attitudes to Genetic Engineering

& Cloning Christianity

Half Term

Title: Christian Attitudes to Genetic Engineering 17 October 2015Developing: To describe what is meant by the term ‘Genetic Engineering’. (E/D Grade)Secure: Explain the potential problems with ‘Designer Babies’. (C/B Grade)Excelling: Evaluate whether advances in medical science are valuable. (A/A*)

Copy the definitions

Genetic Engineering

The deliberate modification of the characters of an organism by the manipulation of the genetic material.

Stem Cells

Human Embryo

Simple cells in the body that are able to develop into any one of various kinds of cells (such as blood cells, skin ... ) A human in the early stages of growth and differentiation, from fertilization to the beginning of the third month of pregnancy

1. Write the title2. Choose an objective3. Copy the definitions

into your lesson template

There are two main attitudes to genetic engineering in

Christianity. One attitude is that it is COMPLETELY

UNACCEPTABLE and the other is that it is ACCEPTABLE

WITHIN LIMITS.

Some Christians such as Roman Catholics believe life begins at

conception and see an embryo as a ‘person’ so genetic engineering involving embryos is WRONG.

Genetic engineering sometimes involved ‘discarding’ embryos which would be seen by some Christians as a form of abortion and therefore as

murder.

Why Christians may OPPOSE genetic engineering

Questions you would be asked on this topic …

Q (b) Do you think cloning for medical research is against God’s will?

Q (c) Explain why some Christians allow genetic engineering, but some do not.

Q (d) “Christians should agree with cloning” Do you agree ... ?

Disease

Why would parents want

genetic engineering for their offspring?

Give three examples.

Liberal Christians are not so strict. They would allow genetic engineering for reasons such as curing disease. They believe Jesus healed the sick and this is just a modern way of

doing the same thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZHfPAugWAE

What are the ADVANTAGES ?

• You can ensure your child is born free from disease or disability.

•You have control over your offspring – gender, looks etc – it is

not down to chance.

Why might Christians OPPOSE this?

• It is ‘Playing God’

• God created everyone in His own image to be unique

• It goes against the plan and will of God

Extension: Watch the clip and decide advantages and disadvantages of designer babies in the future

Genetic Perfection

Other strict Christians such as Catholics do not agree to genetic engineering unless it only for curing disease. They would never agree to human embryos being used to do this.

Genetic engineering to create the ‘perfect person’ would not be allowed.

A couple have decided that they want their child to be like David Beckham.

They are able to design every aspect of their unborn baby to fulfil this choice. The couple are also able to alter the

level of intelligence, and stop their child from having any form of disease.

Should they do it?

Extension: Watch this clip and make notes on the issues raised by human cloning.

Saviour Siblings

Other strict Christians do not allow any form of genetic engineering. They believe genetic engineering is ‘playing God’. They believe God created the genetic make-up of the person

at the moment of conception and people have no right to interfere with God’s will.

A couple discover that their son is facing death from an inherited disease and are

told that they only way they can save him is by having another child. Once their new child is born, they can take

stem cells from the umbilical cord and transplant them into the son to cure his

disease.

Should they do it?

Cystic Fibrosis

Liberal Christians are not so strict. They would allow genetic engineering for reasons such as curing cystic fibrosis. They believe God wants us to use our discoveries to take care of

creation. (Taking care of creation means ‘good stewardship’.

A couple are carriers for the hereditary disease of cystic fibrosis and therefore the chances of their child having it are

very high. They have the option of using genetic engineering to remove this

genetic defect and have a healthy child.

Should they do it?

Are these Statements For or Against Genetic Engineering? F? A?

It offers the prospect of cures for currently incurable diseases

It is being done in other countries and so is available to those rich enough

to travel and pay for treatments

Researchers have too little information about the long-term consequences

Research into stem cell cloning would only use embryos until it was easier

to use adult cells

It has effects which would be irreversible, so if anything went wrong it

would be permanent

Genetic research is an integral part of medical research and is bound to

include some genetic engineering

It places too much power in the hands of scientists who could use genetic

engineering to act like Dr Frankenstein to produce scientifically created

humans

Genetic Engineering treats the human body as a commodity no different

from plants

It offers the possibility of people having to be genetically screened before

getting life insurance, jobs etc.

Genetic research is closely monitored by the law, but has vast potential

benefits

Plenary 1

Genetic engineering isACCEPTABLE because...

Genetic engineering isNOT ACCEPTABLE because…

EXTENSION: Can you add in any EXAMPLES to expand those points?

Complete the table on your worksheet

Sum up today’s lesson in 30 WORDS or less.