📋 Written Ability Test (WAT)/Essay Analysis Guide: Is It Ethical to Use Genetic Engineering for Human Enhancement?
🌐 Understanding the Topic’s Importance
This topic challenges students to explore the intersection of science, ethics, and societal norms, making it ideal for testing critical thinking and value-based reasoning skills in B-school candidates.
⏳ Effective Planning and Writing
- Time Allocation:
- 🕔 Planning: 5 minutes
- ✍️ Writing: 20 minutes
- 🔍 Review: 5 minutes
- Preparation Tips:
- 🔑 Identify key ethical theories (e.g., utilitarianism, deontology).
- 📚 Note pros and cons with relevant examples.
🎯 Introduction Techniques for Essays
- Contrast Approach: “While genetic engineering holds the promise of curing hereditary diseases, its use for human enhancement raises moral dilemmas about equality and identity.”
- Solution-Based Approach: “Genetic engineering offers solutions to intractable diseases, but ethical frameworks are essential to guide its application for enhancement.”
- Timeline Approach: “From medical breakthroughs to societal controversies, genetic engineering’s journey epitomizes the dual-edged nature of scientific progress.”
📄 Structuring the Essay Body
- Achievements: Highlight medical and technological progress.
“CRISPR technology has enabled curing hereditary diseases with 98% precision.”
- Challenges with Comparative Analysis: Discuss ethical concerns and global perspectives.
“The divide between countries like the US (limited approval) and China (controversial practices) highlights diverse ethical approaches.”
- Future Outlook: Propose balanced solutions.
“Global collaborations for ethical standards can mitigate risks and ensure equitable benefits.”
🤝 Concluding Effectively
- Balanced Conclusion: “Genetic engineering’s potential necessitates a balance between innovation and ethical responsibility, guided by inclusive frameworks.”
- Global Perspective: “Drawing from global practices, ethical genetic engineering requires equitable access and strict oversight.”
📊 Analyzing Successes and Shortcomings
- ✅ Key Achievements: Cure of hereditary diseases, technological advancements.
- ⚠️ Ongoing Challenges: Ethical misuse, societal inequities.
- 🌍 Global Context: Regulatory successes in the UK vs. controversies in China.
🌍 Recommendations for Sustainable Progress
- 📜 Establish international ethical frameworks.
- 🤝 Promote equitable access to genetic technologies.
- ⚕️ Focus on medical, not cosmetic, applications.
✍️ Sample Short Essays
- Balanced Perspective: “Genetic engineering’s promise in curing diseases must align with ethical safeguards to prevent societal inequities.”
- Solution-Oriented: “Establishing global ethical frameworks ensures genetic engineering advances without compromising moral boundaries.”
- Global Comparison: “While genetic engineering has transformed healthcare, varying global ethical norms underscore the need for unified standards.”