I was thrown into a pool of nostalgia when I first started Brave New World when began with artificially fertilizing eggs to create babies. I had watched the movie GATTACA a couple years back and noticed similarities between the two.
For once, the humans are created and the ones who weren't born in a lab were disrespected and had been frowned upon. They were created to be perfect, beautiful, and without a flaw. Anyone who was "defective" or had any other malfunction with their genes or health were outcasts. Another similarity (which is pretty much a cliche) is that there are characters who realize something is wrong with their society and wonder why and try to solve the problem.
As it turns out, human genetic engineering is already being used. It is on a small scale presently, used to allow infirtile women with defective mitochondria to have children. The genetic information come from two mothers and one father (so there are the parent's genes in it), then are changed around known as gremline engineering. Scientists hope to also use this method to help with diseases and increase strength, kind of like a superhuman.
There has been lots of controversy on the subject on whether this is a good idea. Critics say it's unethical. What do you think?
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Ah, GATTACA. I remember that.
ReplyDeleteFor those going into Mr. McCabe's AP Bio, when you get to genetics, you'll watch this movie.
There is a distinction, I believe, between beneficial gene altering and superficial altering. If humans altered genes to, say, lower one's chance of being infected by influenza, then it must be ethical. However, if people started to use gene altering to create a "perfect looking" child then that would be unethical. One's opinion on gene altering differs in the context that it's used in, right
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