Engineering In Frankenstein

The novel Frankenstein, written by Mary Shelley, centers around a scientist, Victor Frankenstein, and the creation that comes from one of his experiments. In her book, Shelley addresses the concern of technology going too far and disrupting human life. She argues that the progression of technology becomes monstrous when humans can no longer control it. In many cases, the use of genetic engineering leaves scientists useless because they have no control over the consequences that come from it. Victor Frankenstein is trying to recreate life, but does not understand everything that comes with it. His attempt to copy life ended up disturbing the natural order of human life because of the unexpected actions of the creation. The use of genetic

Early examples of genetic engineering include selective breeding and hybridization. Victor Frankenstein’s creation is, in a sense, a hybrid because it is made up of many different pieces intended to yield a superior form, but his plan did not produce the outcome he had wanted. When Frankenstein first lays eyes on his creation, its appearance disgusts him because it is not what he had expected, ‘‘I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful! Great God! His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same color as the dun-white sockets in which they were set, his shriveled complexion and straight black lips” (Shelley 35). Shelley describes Frankenstein as being utterly disappointed that his carefully thought out process had not brought the outcome he expected. Frankenstein believed that by selecting beautiful pieces the creation would be a beautiful and desirable hybrid, but that is not how the creation ended up being. Instead, it was a disgusting attempt at copying the human form. As the field of research in genetic engineering has grown, new types are being discovered and created. The field has expanded and now includes gene therapy and manipulation of DNA. Gene therapy is divided into two categories. One is the alteration of sperm or egg cells, resulting in a permanent genetic change for the organism and the following generations. The second category is somatic cell therapy, or organ transport (“Genetic Engineering”). Manipulation of DNA is commonly used to alter the genetic makeup of foods to increase the nutrients they contain or to make crops resistant to bugs and