Event 2 | Gattaca

I attended the watch party on May 7th. I found the movie interesting because it explores what life could be like if society obsessed over ideal genetics.




The movie Gattaca is about ideal genetics, and how technology can be used to tweak genes. This ties back into what we are learning in class because of the use of biotechnologies to alter genes. Such as the case of Alba, where fluorescent jellyfish genome was injected into a rabbit, or Joe Davis injecting a mouse with the map of the Milky Way. Gattaca takes this a step further and creates a hierarchical society based on genetics. In the movie Gattaca, the main character Vincent is conceived without any genetic modifications. He is denied opportunities because he is seen as genetically unfit. Vincent ends up meeting Jerome, who has perfect genetics, and Vincent ends up taking Jerome's identity in order to enter the astronaut program.


Image from harrisonpl


What stuck out to me is how people were denied an opportunity to even try out for a position due to their genes. In Gattaca's society, the top jobs, such as becoming an astronaut, were limited to those with the best genes. This meant that anyone that was born naturally was unable to even apply for the job. This raises the issue of ethics. If people are allowed to choose desirable genetics for their children, then why can't a company choose desirable genetics for their workforce? Where is the line drawn of what is acceptable and what isn't?

Image from biohackinfo


Gattaca's entire premise is based on designer babies. Designer babies are babies that have had their genes modified or altered to exhibit or inhibit specific traits. Gattaca was released in 1997, while the first designer baby was born in 2000. When the film first released, the possibilities of genetic modifications were not even close to the extent of what science is capable of now. This relates to the week 4 topic of technology and art. Technology is being used in order to sculpt/create the perfect individual by altering traits such as height, intelligence, hair color, etc.

Image from theday


Overall I found Gattaca quite interesting due to it being able to predict so much about genetic modifications even though it came out before the first designer baby. I recommend this movie because of how much genetic modifications have progressed, which means that the topic of the movie is more relevant than ever.





Citations

A Cecile JW Janssens Research Professor of Epidemiology. “Those Designer Babies Everyone Is Freaking out about – It's Not Likely to Happen.” The Conversation, 10 July 2019, theconversation.com/those-designer-babies-everyone-is-freaking-out-about-its-not-likely-to-happen-103079.

“Designer Babies: an Ethical Horror Waiting to Happen?” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 8 Jan. 2017, www.theguardian.com/science/2017/jan/08/designer-babies-ethical-horror-waiting-to-happen.

“Film: GATTACA.” · Halperin Building, 25 May 1970, www.harrisonpl.org/events/harrison/12949.

“Gene Modification.” Biohackinfo, biohackinfo.com/genetic-engineering/.

Riding, James. “Debate Rages as First Designer Babies Born.” The Day, theday.co.uk/stories/debate-rages-as-first-designer-babies-born.

Vyas, Kashyap. “Designer Babies: The Controversial Use of CRISPR and Its Ethical Challenges.” Interesting Engineering, Interesting Engineering, 8 July 2019, interestingengineering.com/designer-babies-gene-editing-and-the-controversial-use-of-crispr.

“What Are Designer Babies -- a Healthcare Wonder or an Ethical Horror?” ZME Science, 5 Mar. 2021, www.zmescience.com/science/what-are-designer-babies-a-healthcare-wonder-or-an-ethical-horror/. 

Young, Emma. “Mutant Bunny.” New Scientist, 22 Sept. 2000, www.newscientist.com/article/dn16-mutant-bunny/.

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