Article Analysis
FirstNews
Issue 452
13th - 19th Feb 2015
Science: What’s a ‘three-parent baby’?
Science
The new medical
technique could save lives
iStock
What’s a
‘threeparent
baby’?
last week, the House of Commons made the historic decision to make a new medical technique
legal. Scientists say it will prevent some babies from inheriting deadly medical problems, but other
groups are worried about what might happen in the future. So what’s it all about?
As long as the House of Lords agrees with the decision, the
UK will be the first country in the world to make mitochondrial
replacement legal. Mitochondria are found in the body’s cells
and provide us with energy. However, the DNA (see below)
inside mitochondria can sometimes contain errors that lead
to serious medical conditions. These can affect the muscles,
heart, brain and eyes, and some of them can lead to blindness,
deafness or even early death. There is no known cure for these
conditions. Around one in every 200 children are born with
one of them, although many show no symptoms and
stay healthy.
What is DNA?
iStock
Mitochondria in a cell
Most of the DNA inside your cells is a mix of your mother’s
and father’s. This DNA is like a blueprint for the body, telling
it how to grow. Everyone’s is different, which is why we’re all different shapes and sizes, with different abilities. This DNA is the
most important for your body. However, the DNA inside mitochondria (known as mtDNA) only comes from your mother. It is
diseases caused by this mtDNA that the new technique could treat.
Mitochondrial replacement is just an idea and has not been tried out yet. However, the plan is that healthy mitochondria
from a donor would be used to help parents have a baby that is free from mitochondrial disease. Around 2,500 women in the
UK could benefit.
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Article Analysis
Science: What’s a ‘three-parent baby’?
FirstNews
Issue 452
13th - 19th Feb 2015
This donation of mtDNA has led some people to say that any children born will be ‘three-parent babies’. However, mtDNA is not
thought to affect personality, only how the mitochondria work. The DNA that affects things like height, eye colour and personality
would only come from the baby’s two parents. The donated mtDNA would be around 1% of the new baby’s total DNA.
iStock
A computer-generated
image showing the
famous double helix
structure of DNA
Who’s for and against it?
An expert panel put together by the Government found no evidence to suggest that the technique was unsafe. They said
that more tests would be needed first before it could be tried in real life.
Although many well-known scientists approve, not everyone agrees. Objections have also come from some religious
groups, such as the Church of England, who say that more time is needed to discuss the science and whether the technique is
the right thing for society.
Some people have said that it is messing with nature, or that we don’t yet know what the effects could be on ‘three-parent
babies’ or their children.
Many scientists and people affected by these diseases think that it is better to try this technique than to let babies be born
with life-threatening diseases.
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Article Analysis
FirstNews
Issue 452
13th - 19th Feb 2015
Science: What’s a ‘three-parent baby’?
Carefully read this week’s science story “What’s a ‘Three-parent baby’?” then answer the following questions.
Part A: Find the facts (AF2)
A1. What was the historic decision made by the House of Commons last week?
A2. What are mitochondria?
A3. What is DNA and how is the DNA inside mitochondria different from most of the DNA inside your cells?
A4. If the DNA inside mitochondria contains errors, what can it lead to?
A5. Complete the table by writing what the numbers refer to.
200
2,500
Part B: Interpret the information (AF3)
B1. What is the aim of mitochondrial replacement?
B2. Is the technique safe?
B3. Why has the plan to use donated mtDNA led some people to say that any children born will be ‘threeparent babies’?
B4. Why do you think that some religious groups such as the Church of England have raised objections?
B5. Explain the arguments in favour of mitochondrial replacement.
Part C: Analyse the writing and presentation (AF4-7)
C1. What is the purpose of this article? Find evidence to support your answer.
C2. What is the effect of using the reference to a ‘three-parent baby’ as the headline?
C3. Why do you think that sub-headings have been used in this article?
C4. Describe the three pictures and give reasons to explain why this combination of pictures has been
included with the article.
C5. The writer uses the words “mitochondria,” “DNA” “mtDNA” and “mitochondrial replacement.”
Comment on the use of such language.
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Article Analysis
FirstNews
Issue 452
13th - 19th Feb 2015
Science: What’s a ‘three-parent baby’?
Carefully read this week’s science story “What’s a ‘Three-parent baby’?” then answer the following questions.
Part A: Find the facts (AF2)
A1. What was the historic decision made by the House of Commons last week?
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
A2. What are mitochondria?
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
A3. What is DNA and how is the DNA inside mitochondria different from most of the DNA inside your cells?
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
A4. If the DNA inside mitochondria contains errors, what can it lead to?
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
A5. Complete the table by writing what the numbers refer to.
200
2,500
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Article Analysis
Science: What’s a ‘three-parent baby’?
FirstNews
Issue 452
13th - 19th Feb 2015
Part B: Interpret the information (AF3)
B1. What is the aim of mitochondrial replacement?
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B2. Is the technique safe?
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B3. Why has the plan to use donated mtDNA led some people to say that any children born will be ‘threeparent babies’?
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B4. Why do you think that some religious groups such as the Church of England have raised objections?
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
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Article Analysis
Science: What’s a ‘three-parent baby’?
FirstNews
Issue 452
13th - 19th Feb 2015
...........................................................................................................................................................................................................
B5. Explain the arguments in favour of mitochondrial replacement.
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Part C: Analyse the writing and presentation (AF4-7)
C1. What is the purpose of this article? Find evidence to support your answer.
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
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C2. What is the effect of using the reference to a ‘three-parent baby’ as the headline?
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
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..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
C3. Why do you think that sub-headings have been used in this article?
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
Article Analysis
Science: What’s a ‘three-parent baby’?
FirstNews
Issue 452
13th - 19th Feb 2015
C4. Describe the three pictures and give reasons to explain why this combination of pictures has been
included with the article.
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C5. The writer uses the words “mitochondria,”“DNA,”“mtDNA” and “mitochondrial replacement.” Comment
on the use of such language.
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..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................
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Article Analysis
Science: What’s a ‘three-parent baby’?
FirstNews
Issue 452
13th - 19th Feb 2015
TEACHER ANSWERS
The teacher answers are intended to provide a guide to the reading skill each question is practising, and to suggest more
comprehensive answers pupils may give as their reading skills progress.
CURRICULUM UPDATE - Question AF strand and levelled answers
Currently, the teacher answers provide a guide as to the AF strand of the question and possible responses from pupils
working at different levels. In the level 5/6 answers we try to provide the most complete answer possible in order to provide
teaching points when discussing the answers with pupils.
These will continue to be included for the next academic year to support schools in England where the Year 6 SATs in 2015
will still be based on these criteria. However, this term, we will update this resource to include references to the programmes
of study in the new English curriculum in England.
Part A
Questions about the article “What’s a ‘three-parent baby’?”
A1. What was the historic decision made by the House of Commons last week?
AF2-understand, describe, select, retrieve information, events or ideas from texts and use quotation and reference to the text.
Possible answer:
L4-relevant points identified
• Last week, the House of Commons made the historic decision to make a new medical technique legal.
L5-additional relevant information
• As long as the House of Lords agrees with the decision, the UK will be the first country in the world to make mitochondrial
replacement legal.
A2. What are mitochondria?
AF2-understand, describe, select, retrieve information, events or ideas from texts and use quotation and reference to the text.
Possible answer:
L4-relevant points identified
• Mitochondria are found in the body’s cells and provide us with energy.
A3. What is DNA and how is the DNA inside mitochondria different from most of the DNA inside your cells?
AF2-understand, describe, select, retrieve information, events or ideas from texts and use quotation and reference to the text.
Possible answer:
L4-relevant points identified
• DNA is like a blueprint for the body telling it how to grow. Most of the DNA inside your cells is a mixture of your mother’s and
father’s. However the DNA inside mitochondria only comes from your mother.
L5-relevant points clearly identified
• DNA is like a blueprint for the body telling it how to grow. Most of the DNA inside your cells is a mixture of your mother’s and
father’s. Everyone’s is different, which is why we’re all different shapes and sizes, with different abilities. This DNA is the most
important for your body. However the DNA inside mitochondria (known as mtDNA) only comes from your mother.
A4. If the DNA inside mitochondria contains errors, what can it lead to?
AF2-understand, describe, select, retrieve information, events or ideas from texts and use quotation and reference to the text.
Possible answer:
L4-relevant points identified
• It can lead to serious medical conditions.
L5-relevant points clearly identified
• It can lead to serious medical conditions. These can affect the muscles, heart, brain and eyes, and some of them can lead to
blindness, deafness or even early death. There is no known cure for these conditions.
A5. Complete the table by writing what the numbers refer to.
AF2-understand, describe, select, retrieve information, events or ideas from texts and use quotation and reference to the text.
Possible answer:
L4-relevant points identified
L5-additional relevant information
Learning through news
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Article Analysis
FirstNews
Issue 452
13th - 19th Feb 2015
Science: What’s a ‘three-parent baby’?
200
L4-One in every 200 children is born with a medical condition because of errors in the DNA inside their
mitochondria.
L5-However many show no symptoms and remain healthy.
2,500
L4-Around 2,500 women in the UK could benefit from mitochondrial replacement.
Part B:
B1. What is the aim of mitochondrial replacement?
AF3- deduce, infer or interpret information, events or ideas from texts
Possible answer:
L4-appropriate inference
• The aim of mitochondrial replacement is to prevent some babies from inheriting deadly medical problems.
L5-appropriate inference with explanation
• The DNA inside mitochondria can contain errors and lead to medical problems. Therefore the aim of mitochondrial
replacement is to use healthy mitochondria from a donor to help parents have a baby that is free from mitochondrial disease.
B2. Is the technique safe?
AF3- deduce, infer or interpret information, events or ideas from texts
Possible answer:
L4-appropriate inference
• Mitochondrial replacement is just an idea and hasn’t been tried yet; based on the research that has been done so far there is
no evidence to suggest that the technique isn’t safe.
L5-some explanation
• However, the expert panel said that more tests would be needed before the technique could actually be used.
B3. Why has the plan to use donated mtDNA led some people to say that any children born will be ‘three-parent babies’?
AF3- deduce, infer or interpret information, events or ideas from texts
Possible answer:
L4-appropriate inference
L5-appropriate inference with explanation
• The plan to use donated mtDNA has led some people to say that any children born will be ‘three-parent babies’ because the
mtDNA will come from a third person. Most of the DNA inside a person’s cells is a mix of the mother’s and father’s. The DNA
inside mitochondria only comes from the mother. It is this DNA which will be replaced with the mtDNA from a donor and which
will thus introduce the DNA from a third person.
L6-detailed exploration of meaning
• However, other people disagree with this view because the donated mtDNA would only be around 1% of the new baby’s
total DNA. Furthermore, mtDNA is only thought to affect how the mitochondria work. The DNA that affects personality and
appearance would only come from the baby’s two parents.
B4. Why do you think that some religious groups such as the Church of England have raised objections?
AF3- deduce, infer or interpret information, events or ideas from texts
Possible answer:
L4-appropriate inference
L5-appropriate inference with explanation
• It is likely that some religious groups such as the Church of England have raised objections because of their belief in God.
Genetic engineering is a controversial subject and some religious followers view it as humans interfering with the natural
order of things and trying to play God. Indeed, as is stated in the article, mitochondrial replacement is viewed by some people
as “messing with nature.”
L6-cites textual evidence
• However, the Church of England has not dismissed the technique totally. They just say that “more time is needed to discuss
the science and whether the technique is the right thing for society.”
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Article Analysis
Science: What’s a ‘three-parent baby’?
FirstNews
Issue 452
13th - 19th Feb 2015
B5. Explain the arguments in favour of mitochondrial replacement.
AF3- deduce, infer or interpret information, events or ideas from texts
Possible answer:
L4-appropriate inference
• One strong argument in favour of mitochondrial replacement is that it is better to try the technique than to let babies be
born with life-threatening diseases.
L5-further exploration of meaning
• Also, as the mtDNA would only be around 1% of the new baby’s total DNA and is only thought to affect how the
mitochondria work, there is the argument that that doesn’t really qualify as the making of a ‘three-parent baby’.
Part C:
C1. What is the purpose of this article? Find evidence to support your answer.
AF6-identify and comment on writers’ purposes and viewpoints, and the overall effect of the text on the reader
Possible answer:
L4-identifies the main purpose of a text
L5-general awareness of the effect on the reader, with explanation
• The purpose of this article is to inform readers about mitochondrial replacement and the issues surrounding this new
medical technique.
• It is writing to inform because it clearly tells the reader the facts about what mitochondrial replacement is and how it is being
perceived. There is also a reference to the fact that around “one in every 200 children” is born with a disease caused by mtDNA.
Such use of statistics is a feature of writing to inform.
C2. What is the effect of using the reference to a ‘three-parent baby’ as the headline?
AF6-identify and comment on writers’ purposes and viewpoints, and the overall effect of the text on the reader
Possible answer:
L4-simple comment on overall effect on the reader
L5-awareness of the effect on the reader, with explanation
• The reference to a ‘three-parent baby’ is intriguing because it seems to go against everything that is taught in biology
lessons! It sounds quite shocking and so it is likely to hook the reader. Furthermore, the use of the question implies that the
answer will be provided in the main body text; this makes it even more likely that the reader will want to read on.
C3. Why do you think that sub-headings have been used in this article?
AF4- identify and comment on the structure and organisation of texts, including grammatical and presentational features at
text level.
Possible answer:
L4-simple comment on the presentational feature
L5-comment on the presentational feature with some explanation
• The purpose of sub-headings is to organise the text. This article contains some quite complicated scientific information and
so the sub-headings help to break it up and make it easier to access. The sub-headings are in the form of questions and they
reflect what the reader is likely to be wondering, thus making it clear that such questions are valid. This renders the article less
intimidating.
C4. Describe the three pictures and give reasons to explain why this combination of pictures has been included with the article.
AF4- identify and comment on the structure and organisation of texts, including grammatical and presentational features at
text level.
Possible answer:
L4-simple comment on the presentational feature
L5-comment on the presentational feature with some explanation
L6-detailed comment on the effect of the presentational feature
• There is one picture of mitochondria in a cell and another computer-generated image showing the structure of DNA. These
pictures are linked to the scientific details. The picture of the mitochondria helps the reader to be able to understand more
clearly what they are. The computer-generated image of DNA is colourful and looks appealing. It also helps the reader to
understand the structure of DNA.
• The main picture is of three hands linked together. One of the hands looks like that of an adult male, and another slightly
smaller one could be said to be the hand of an adult female. On top of these hands is a baby’s hand linking them together. As
the picture is accompanied by a caption which reads: “The new medical technique could save lives,” there is the implication
that the two adults have had a healthy child with the help of a donor.
• This combination of pictures adds interest to the article and reflects both the factual, scientific details and the emotional
implications of mitochondrial replacement.
Article Analysis
Science: What’s a ‘three-parent baby’?
FirstNews
Issue 452
13th - 19th Feb 2015
C5. The writer uses the words “mitochondria,” “DNA,” “mtDNA” and “mitochondrial replacement.” Comment on the use of such
language.
AF5- explain and comment on writers’ use of language, including grammatical and literacy features at word and sentence
level
Possible answer:
L4-simple comment on the language used
L5/6-explanation of the effect of the language used
• Words such as “mitochondria,” “DNA,” “mtDNA” and “mitochondrial replacement” are scientific jargon. Most of the words will
be more familiar to medical professionals and scientists than First News readers because they aren’t common in everyday
parlance.
• However, it is necessary for the words to be used in an article about the legalisation of the new medical technique.
Furthermore, as the article appears in the science section of First News then readers expect such specialised vocabulary to be
used. Also, because First News is aimed at young people between the ages of 7 and 14 the words are all clearly defined in the
main body text.
• Indeed as the issue of the legalisation of mitochondrial replacement is controversial and thus newsworthy it is likely that the
words will become more familiar to people generally.
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