Question

Which of the following is most likely to have a dysgenic effect?

A Medical treatment of an autosomal dominant disorder
B Medical treatment of an autosomal recessive disorder
C Medical treatment of a complex genetic disorder
D Prenatal diagnosis of a genetic trait
E Selective termination of affected pregnancies

Answer 1

Selective termination of affected pregnancies is most likely to have a dysgenic effect, as it can lead to a decrease in the frequency of certain genes in the population over time.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most likely option to have a dysgenic effect would be E Selective termination of affected pregnancies. Dysgenic effect refers to a decrease in the overall genetic quality of a population due to certain factors. The selective termination of affected pregnancies involves deliberately ending pregnancies with genetic disorders, which can lead to a decrease in the frequency of those genes in the population over time.

On the other hand, medical treatment of autosomal dominant disorders (A) and autosomal recessive disorders (B) would not have a dysgenic effect. In fact, these treatments aim to alleviate the symptoms of the disorders and improve the quality of life for individuals affected by them.

Similarly, medical treatment of complex genetic disorders (C) and prenatal diagnosis of a genetic trait (D) do not involve reducing the genetic quality of the population and therefore would not have a dysgenic effect.