Syllabus: Paper I > 6. Anthropological Theories > Culture and Personality
Ethics and Genetic Engineering — 2020 Paper I
Question · 2020 · Paper I · 10 Marks
Ethics and Genetic engineering
Model Answer
VAID ICSApproach
- Demand of Question: Examine the major ethical issues created by genetic engineering in humans and other organisms.
- Structuring the Response: Briefly explain genetic engineering, distinguish therapeutic benefits from ethical risks, and conclude with principles for responsible use.
- Key Dimensions to Cover: Gene editing, CRISPR, somatic versus germline intervention, consent, safety, equity, enhancement and genetic discrimination.
Model Answer
Introduction
Genetic engineering involves deliberate modification of genetic material to alter biological characteristics. Technologies such as recombinant DNA and CRISPR-Cas systems offer major possibilities in medicine and agriculture but also raise fundamental questions concerning safety, justice and human dignity.
Major ethical issues
- Somatic versus germline editing: Somatic changes affect the treated individual, whereas germline modifications may be inherited by future generations who cannot provide consent.
- Safety: Unintended or off-target genetic changes may produce harmful consequences.
- Therapy versus enhancement: Correcting serious disease is ethically distinct from selecting or enhancing traits such as appearance, intelligence or physical ability.
- Equity: Expensive genetic technologies may widen existing health and social inequalities.
- Informed consent: Individuals must understand uncertain benefits and risks, especially in experimental interventions.
- Genetic discrimination: Genetic information may be misused by employers, insurers or institutions.
- Revival of eugenic thinking: Selection of supposedly desirable traits may recreate historical ideas of biological superiority.
Thus:
Technical possibility ≠ Ethical acceptability
Anthropological dimension
Definitions of normality, disability and desirable traits are culturally shaped, making community participation and social context important in bioethical decision-making.
Conclusion
Genetic engineering has substantial therapeutic potential, but its responsible use requires safety, informed consent, justice, privacy and strict caution regarding heritable human modification.
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UPSC Anthropology Optional 2020 — Paper I
28 questionsSyllabus: Paper I > 9.7 Concepts and methods of Ecological Anthropology > Bio-cultural adaptations
Syllabus: Paper I > 1.4 Human Evolution > Theories of evolution > Synthetic theory
Syllabus: Paper I > 1.6 Phylogenetic status, characteristics and distribution > Homo sapiens
Syllabus: Paper I > 2.2 The Nature of Society > Social institutions
5(d) Ethics and Genetic engineering
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > 12. Applications of Anthropology > Applied human genetics and eugenics
5(c) Experiential Ethnography
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > 8.1 Research Methods > Fieldwork tradition and ethnography
3(a) Explain the impact of feminist movement on universality of marriage and family structure.
20 Marks
Syllabus: Paper I > 2.4 Family > Universality and changing structure of the family
Syllabus: Paper I > 9.8 Epidemiological Anthropology > Health and disease transitions
5(b) Genetic drift
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > 9.3 Mendelian population and Hardy-Weinberg law > Genetic drift
Syllabus: Paper I > 12. Applications of Anthropology > DNA technology and genome study
1(c) Human rights and Cultural relativism
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > 2.1 The Nature of Culture > Ethnocentrism vis-a-vis Cultural Relativism
Syllabus: Paper I > 9.8 Epidemiological Anthropology > Infectious diseases
Syllabus: Paper I > 8.4 Research Methods > Analysis, interpretation and presentation of data
1(e) Jane Goodall's contributions in studying primate behaviour
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > 1.5 Characteristics of Primates > Primate behaviour
Syllabus: Paper I > 7. Culture, language and communication > Social context of language use
4(b) Illustrate with examples the various types of locomotion patterns among the non-human primates.
15 Marks
Syllabus: Paper I > 1.5 Characteristics of Primates > Primate adaptations: arboreal and terrestrial
Syllabus: Paper I > 1.8(b) Cultural Evolution: broad outlines of prehistoric cultures > Palaeolithic
Syllabus: Paper I > 9.3 Consanguineous and non-consanguineous mating > Genetic effects
1(a) Natufian culture
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > 1.8(b) Cultural Evolution: broad outlines of prehistoric cultures > Mesolithic > Natufian
Syllabus: Paper I > 9.4(b) Sex chromosomal aberrations
Syllabus: Paper I > 3. Economic Organization > Distribution and exchange > Conspicuous consumption
5(a) Racism and Eugenics
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > 9.5 Race and racism > Racial differentiation; eugenics
1(b) Sapir-Whorf hypothesis
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > 7. Culture, language and communication > Language and thought
6(a) Secular trend in human growth can be positive, negative or neutral. Illustrate with examples.
20 Marks
Syllabus: Paper I > 10. Human growth and development > Secular trend
5(e) Senescence
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > 10. Human growth and development > Ageing and senescence
Syllabus: Paper I > 1.3 Main branches of Anthropology, their scope and relevance
1(d) Victor Turner and Liminality
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > 6. Anthropological Theories > Symbolic Anthropology > Turner; liminality