In 1869, Friedrich Miescher, a German scientist, discovered Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) and in doing so revolutionized people’s understanding of human genetics. But the world had to wait until 1953 to get more information about DNA, which was when James Watson and Francise Crick decoded it into base pairs. DNA is made of four essential proteins: adenine, thymine, guanine and cytosine whose initials gave the name to a famous American science fiction movie of 1997: GATTACA.
In this movie the protagonist, Vincent, is one of the last "natural" born humans in a new world, where life is determined by genetic engineering rather than education or experience. Expected to die in his 30’s as a result of his genetic deficiencies, he has no chance to compete in a society that discriminates against natural born genes. Vincent dreams to travel to the stars so he assumes the identity of Jerome Morrow, a genetically engineered superior human, who had become a paraplegic after suffering a car accident. Vincent learns to cheat the constant gene tests by using Jerome's DNA samples, while taking his place in the company Gattaca. After getting selected for a manned space-mission to Titan and the murder of the director of the company, Vincent struggles to keep his secret as the police start to investigate him.
In this film, individuals face discrimination because of genetic inferiority, like that towards gender, race and religion which remains a problem today. This society separates “valid” individuals from “invalid”, similar to Hitler’s idea to develop a “pure” Aryan race, without genetic “disadvantages”. The program was called LEBENSBORN and had strict criteria for reproduction to generate pure descendants just like in the movie Gattaca.
Is the reality in Gattaca our current reality? Yes it is! It is already possible to get DNA analysis to learn genetic determinants such as predisposition to certain cancers and potential fertility. Doubts about the ethical implications and future potential still prevent a substantial market. In upcoming years the price of gene analysis will continue to fall, creating new business opportunities.
But how far can we go? Do we really want to consider handling physical disadvantages with optimized DNA? According to Edward R. Rosick some people say:
“It would be fine to use genetic engineering to make a child more intelligent or more attractive than they otherwise would have been”
or
“The ability to manipulate, or engineer, genes is arguably the greatest revolution that will take place in human history, changing the very nature of what it means to be human”
But does this really guarantee an easier life? “Genetic engineering is a tool that has the capacity to change the very nature of what it means to be human, and perhaps, what is acceptable”. So it depends on us, what genetic engineering is doing to society or if we should ask ourselves, if we are encroaching into gods activities? And if so, is it ethical to do so?
Bibliography:
Ralf Dahm - Die Entdeckung der DNA
Edward R. Rosick, D.O., M.P.H. - Genetic engeneering – what´s in it for me and you?
Thank you again
ResponderEliminarI love Gattaca¡ This film remeber me a lot of tales from Philip K Dick. I hope to talk about this.
I recommend you an amazing book about this kind of themes: The singularity is near from Ray Kurzweil.
http://www.singularity.com/
It's frigthening¡