Final answer:
The account of moral theory based on genetic properties holds that an individual has moral status if and only if that individual has the genetic code of Homo sapiens. This view is supported by philosophers like Ronald Dworkin who argue that human nature itself provides moral status, sidelining the requirement for rational capacities. Morality is seen as arising from both genetic predispositions and cultural memes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The account of moral theory based on genetic properties posits that an individual gains moral status through the mere fact of possessing Homo sapiens DNA. Philosophers such as Ronald Dworkin emphasize that being human is a sufficient criterion for full moral status, suggesting that entities that are human should be assigned moral value, irrespective of their rational capacities.
Morality is considered a product of both our genes and memes. Neuroscience has indicated that there are structures within the brain that predispose humans toward moral reasoning, rooted in evolutionary development as social beings. Moreover, particular moral codes and ethical principles, while perhaps influenced by our biology, are also passed on through cultural mechanisms or memes.