Gattaca and Genetic Engineering

Gattaca is an intriguing science fiction movie about genetic engineering. It portrays the advantages and disadvantages of genetics in an exciting way. Is genetic engineering right? Everyone has their own opinion on the matter, as with many other controversial issues. In my opinion, there are only specific instances where I would ever even consider genetic engineering. The question will never die, and will most likely be debated for centuries. It's a touchy subject, but someone has to blog it.


http://tinyurl.com/3wa6sp2



There are some advantages to having a society like the one portrayed in Gattaca. As shown in the movie, genetically engineered people would be genetically inclined to be good at specific things. Each company would have "the best of the best" working for them. There would be no genetic defects, no diseases, no illness for people to deal with. The probabilities in each life could be calculated based on their genetic sequences. It would also help keep crime rates down, as genetic engineering could take out the genes that cause aggression and other unwanted traits.

There are also many disadvantages to genetic engineering. In the movie, the main character, Vincent, is an "in-valid", meaning he was not a genetically engineered baby. Because of this he was never allowed to follow his dreams of going into space until he fraudulently posed as a "valid". The society in Gattaca never let him attempt his dreams, although he shows that he is mentally capable of achieving them. The only thing that mattered was his DNA sequence, just another way society would discriminate. Genetic engineering leaves out those with disabilities, who are unique and essential to society. If we were able to exclude the eccentric, the different, the misfits, and the weak, we would all be the same. There would be no individualism, none of that crazy diversity that makes life fun and unique. Genetic engineering leaves the struggle out of life, and more often than not, people grow and understand things through struggles and mistakes. We would have generation after generation of individuals who do not appreciate the glory of life: genetically engineered robot-humans. Too many people would leave their lives to the realm of possibility, instead of taking their lives into their own hands, and carving their own destinies.

http://tinyurl.com/3easy8a

I personally do not believe genetic engineering should be used at all. If there were any limits placed on genetic engineering, I think it should be used strictly for diseases and life threatening defects. I simply feel that humans are not mentally capable of fixing all the flaws that I am sure will come surface. The consequences just seem far too varied and unpredictable. History shows that when humans play God it never ends well. The famous saying goes "everything happens for a reason". Mother nature has a way of always putting things back the way they should be. That could be very complicating for the genetic engineers.