GATTACA is a film placed in the near future where the plot is based around a less-than-perfect man, Vincent Freeman. Vincent Freeman is one of the last natural born babies into a society of genetic discrimination, where babies could now be genetically-enhanced. To achieve his dream of going into space, he takes the identity of Jerome Morrow, a man with perfect genetics. Jerome is paralyzed due to the result of a car accident. With professional guidance, Vincent learns to deceive DNA and urine sample testing to allow him into GATTACA with his name as Jerome. When he is finally scheduled for a space mission, the director of GATTACA is killed and the police begin an investigation on everyone in GATTACA, this puts Vincent at the risk of his secret coming out.
As technology and science continues in today's world, there could be a possibility of creating a generation of genetically engineered humans. A company, and society similar to GATTACA could appear in the near future. The technology would take years to create,
…show more content…
however, there is always a possibility it could come sooner than society if ready for. New technological advancements are being made currently allowing rapid sequencing large amounts of DNA. These advancements could lead to even bigger achievements in the genetic field. This idea of genetically engineering humans could lead to ending diseases like cancer, or ALS, or possibly Down Syndrome. Being able to genetically engineer my own child is definitely a moral grey area. Thankfully, during this day in age, this technology is not at society's disposal. Being able to genetically modify my child is something that I would not want to do. I would want my child to be one-hundred percent mine and whomever I have that child with. I would want my future son or daughter to take half of my genetics and half of my husbands. Thinking that I have to go through the pain of giving birth, to a child who is not genetically mine is not something I would want to endure. This is a moral grey area indeed, because people would be stuck between the idea of a child getting left behind and being less intelligent, weaker or inferior to the genetically enhanced kids. It seems to be a peer pressure situation, since others would go along with getting their kids enhanced because they would not want them to get left behind they would want what was best for them to give them a fair chance at life. However, I would not want want to alter the genetics of my kids because of my fears of something going wrong or making them less human. I would personally struggle to go along with this idea on a moral level, admitting to myself everyday that this child is not truly mine, just a science experiment. Also that this idea diminishes the value of life and that science is no replacement for natural humanity. Many outcomes can be expected by new genetically engineered generation of children. There may be positive outcomes at sometimes, but there are also negatives that could greatly affect society. Everyone would want to be exactly the same, no one would be unique in their own special way. Society would be a utopia, everyone is healthy, genetically superior, and exactly the same. This would be affect how the world functions today, the world would become overpopulated. Generations would take longer to die out, the Earth would be packed like a can of sardines. There is the exceptions of accidents causing deaths, however, how many accidents would have to happen daily to create a balanced population? There could also be down sides to genetically engineered humans themselves, in fact there are even problems in today's medical field with genetics. "However, researchers have found that DNA variations outside the exons can affect gene activity and protein production and lead to genetic disorders--variations that whole exome sequencing would miss," (U.S. National Library of Medicine, NP). Creating these variations may even cause problems by creating new diseases or unhealthy medical conditions. There are upsides to being able to genetically modify humans, society would be filled with healthier people. Heart diseases, Down Syndrome, Autism, ALS, none of these would be present in anyone's bodies. Society would flourish, there could be less obesity than in today's world, the Earth could go back to being fit. GATTACA heavily discriminates against the genetically inferior, however genetics is what makes the world discriminate in today's society.
A person's genetics is what makes them look the way they are, discrimination of race is because of genetics. GATTACA looked past anyone's religion, race, gender, all that matters is someone's genetics were good or not. The irony that is within this concept is that genetics is the cause of discrimination. Society today does not think about judging people by their genetics, it does not seem important in today's world. There is feminism because of women's genetics, women are who they are because of that last pair of chromosomes being XX. There was slavery in early history because of people's skin color genes, everything relates back to genetics. However, there is still discrimination towards other things in society, like religion or political views. Those are still around even though they do not have to do with
genetics. The spiral staircase that Jerome climbs during GATTACA is a very emotional scene. The ladder represents a double helix of DNA, and Jerome is conquering being a inferior. Jerome had perfect genetics, everyone wanted to have his genes. However, because of an accident due to him getting hit by a car ruined him. His legs were paralyzed due to the severe injury in his spine. This ruined his genetic publicity, after the accident he had to stay downstairs in his lab helping Vincent. As Jerome climbed the stairs to answer the door, this was very symbolic. As the stairs represented DNA, because of Jerome's accident his DNA is now holding him back from being superior. While he climbed the stairs, he was conquering that resistance that he DNA was telling him he could not do. Jerome conquered genetics, and he beat out the odds of being successful. He saved Vincent because of that courage he had to climb the stairs, to conquer this set back in his life. Therefore, there could be many positive outcomes for being able to have access to genetically engineered humans. Society would be vastly different than it is now, society would be changed for the better or possibly the worst
In the late twentieth century, the field of biotechnology and genetic engineering has positioned itself to become one of the great technological revolutions of human history. Yet, things changed when Herber Boyer, a biochemist at the University of California, founded the company Genentech in 1976 to exploit the commercial potential of his research. Since then the field has exploded into a global amalgam of private research firms developing frivolous, profit-hungry products, such as square trees tailor-made for lumber, without any sort of government regulation.
The movie Gattaca, takes place in a world of discrimination and prejudice, although different from what most people might first imagine, the principals remain the same. Instead of racism because of someone’s physical appearance, it is racism because of someone’s genetic code. Society has never looked at physical appearance less in history. The resources are abundant in this world and genes can be very easily viewed at genetic code booths, much like a ticket booth. This movie contains several important characters, a protagonist who is overcomes discrimination to make his dream come true, and presents a unique possible future of society that humans may have to decide on.
The film Gattaca directed by Andrew Niccol is a science fiction that discovers the overall effects of genetic engineering. This is shown through the idea of a imminent society compelled by eugenics, where hypothetical children are conceived within a world of genetic manipulation. By doing this, it ensures that the upcoming generation posses the finest hereditary traits to benefit the future.
In 1997, Andrew Niccol produced the movie GATTACA. The movie described a world with genetically modified humans, modified at birth to be the perfect child their parents always wanted. In the 1990s, the movie seemed like a science fiction fantasy, but recent advances in biomedical procedure have started to make it a reality. While a future full of genetic engineering may be an intriguing notion, the human genome should be left alone. Humans should not be tampered with.
Human Genetic Screening and Discrimination in Gattaca. Works Cited Missing A few months ago I watched a movie called Gattaca, which dealt with the issue of genetic discrimination in the near future. In the movie, people were separated into two classes, those that were genetically screened and positively altered before birth and the class that was unaltered. The separate classes had stark divisions, from what jobs that you were able to apply for to where you could eat. Security was aimed at keeping unaltered people away from the enhanced people.
Gattaca presents a world destroyed by the pursuit of perfection. Do you agree with this? “The word perfection cannot be defined as one person or one thing. Perfection can only be told or seen in a first person view. No one will genuinely think something or someone is as perfect as another person, it’s impossible to see eye to eye with something that is as powerful and subjective as perfection.”
In the 21st century, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (a screening test used to determine if genetic or chromosomal disorders are present in embryos) can easily be achieve at a high price. This had help doctors predicted and prevented many babies with special features. As a kid, we learned in school that our genes define who we are as a person and without them, we all would look very alike and would act in the very same way. However, does our genetic served more than defining our personalities, likes, or dislikes? What if people were to look at your genes under a microscope, will they be able to tell beyond your cosmetic appearance and see things such as your goals and ambition? Gattaca did a pretty good job of proving this point of view
The use of genetic modification in enhancing human characteristics has brought about negative issues, such as discrimination, ethical issues and corruption. With this in mind, genetic modification has benefitted humans immensely; developing the knowledge of the human mind, preventing hereditary diseases and improving the physical attributes of individuals. Nevertheless, the disadvantages surrounding the enhancement of human characteristics through genetic means outweigh the advantages as portrayed by the film and text, “Gattaca” and “Flowers for Algernon” respectively. In conclusion, the enhancement of human characteristics through genetic means should be strictly advocated against.
Discrimination still exists in our world. People getting mistreated, bullied, abused, etc. because from where they are born is a serious matter that needs to be change. The characteristics and personality is what people are supposed to see in a person, not their appearance.
Genetic screening for certain conditions is already a reality, along with some genetic engineering, so human genetic engineering is literally right around the corner. While this technology would be beneficial to some people, for example the prevent of cystic fibrosis, it's also feasible that, in light of the prejudices already rampant in society, people will be discriminated against for their genetics. According to Jeremy Rifkin, part of the problem with biotechnology and genetic engineering is the terminology itself (550). Rather than using the terminology "variation" or "mutatio...
Science and technology are rapidly advancing everyday; in some ways for the better, and in some, for worse. One extremely controversial advance is genetic engineering. As this technology has high potential to do great things, I believe the power genetic engineering is growing out of control. Although society wants to see this concept used to fight disease and illness, enhance people 's lives, and make agriculture more sustainable, there needs to be a point where a line is drawn.
Although we often use race to classify, interact, and identify with various communities, there is a general consensus among scientists that racial differences do not exist. Indeed, biologists such as Joseph Graves state, "the measured amount of genetic variation in the human population is extremely small." Although we often ascribe genetics to the notion of race, there are no significant genetic differences between racial groups. Thus, there is no genetic basis for race. Our insistence and belief in the idea of race as biology, though, underlines the socially constructed nature of race. Racial groupings of people are based on perceived physical similarities (skin color, hair structure, physique, etc.), not genetic similarities. Nevertheless, we are inclined to equate physical similarities with genetics. Sociologists also use a temporality to argue that race is a social construct. The notion of race results from patterns from the signification of certain traits to different groups of people. However, these patterns (and societal notions of race) change over time. For example, the 20th century belief that "In vital capacity… the tendency of the Negro race has been downward" is certainly not commonplace among individuals today. Notions of race also differ across societies. Racial attitudes towards blacks, for example, are inherently different between the United States and Nigeria. These arguments all suggest that race is socially constructed. The lack of a universal notion of race means that it is not a natural, inherent, or scientific human trait. Rather, different societies use race to ordain their respective social
Good morning, listeners. Welcome to Future Forum. I am Millie Shan. An exciting topic for us to discuss today is the challenges for the future. What concerns could our future generations confront? It is undeniable that rapid technological and scientific progress not only improves convenience and efficiency of our daily life, but also causes ethical concerns to humanity where science and technology intersect with society from different disciplinary aspects. In particular, preimplantation genetic technology could have alter society into a genetic hierarchy establishing a dystopian society accompanied by genetic discrimination. GATTACA made in 1997, an intriguing science fiction film directed by Andrew Niccol, delivers an insight into how the
If a limit is not set between using genetic engineering for treatment and using genetic engineering for enhancement, then many parents could use it purely for eugenic purposes. This could cause ethical concerns but social concerns as well. If this was allowed to occur, it would also give the rich even more advantages than they already have to begin with and drive the social classes even farther apart. The use of genetic engineering may also lead to genetic discrimination. As in the movie Gattaca, a person could easily get a print-out of his or her genotype, this information could then be used by schools, employers, companies, and others; giving rise to a new form of discrimination based on a person’s genetic profile. As the world is already full of discrimination, genetic engineering would even increase the numbers of discrimination against people.
Brimming with ultramodern scenery and metaphysical speculation, Gattaca is a profound glimpse into the not-so-distant future of humanity. Vincent, the main character, is a frustrated ‘faith birth’ living in a world in which his genetically manipulated peers have succeeded him in every competition. Motivated by an unquenchable fascination with space, Vincent recruits the chronically petulant but genetically flawless Jerome Morrow, who allows Vincent to assume his genetic identity in exchange for companionship and free alcohol. As Jerome, Vincent is quickly hired and becomes a celebrated success at Gattaca, America’s leading space station. Poignant and triumphant, Gattaca provides the discerning viewer with a philosophical perspective of the ethics, politics, and realities involved in the lives of both the genetically superior and the naturally conceived.