ipl-logo

Genetic Technology As Depicted In The Film 'Gattaca'

803 Words4 Pages

The filmmaker, Andrew Niccol, endeavors to convey the idea that human mind has more power than genetically superior physique. He condemns the idea of genetic profiles being the only criteria of human ability, and further suggests that people must be judged based on their passion, willpower, and spirit. In the film Gattaca, two contrasting groups of people are present. One is the naturally born, including the main protagonist Vincent, and the other is the genetically engineered, such as Anton and Gerome. He expresses his idea through the juxtaposition of these two groups. At the start of the film, Vincent and Anton is contrasted in every aspect, Anton always being more capable, and Vincent always incompetent. This difference is especially highlighted through their swim races, as Anton always wins the race. However, in their final race, Vincent, who swims with all his might, wins the race, despite Anton’s physical superiority. Through …show more content…

Before this unit, I was skeptical about genetic technologies, as I was unsure if the resources, time and money put into the research and development of genetic technology worth the outcome. However, through research, I have realized that genetic technology is key to saving innumerable lives of patients with any kind of genetic disorders. This technology may be one of many cures for some, but may also be the only method of survival for some others. According to my research, eliminating all genetic disorders is believed to affect 146,000,000 - 219,000,000 people. I am certain that ensuring a safer and healthier life for this multitudinous number of patients will undoubtedly be one of the greatest decisions the society has made. However, at this stage, genetic technology is still in the stage of an embryo. It has great potentials, yet it is not developed to its full extent. Therefore, I believe more effort, time, and resources must be used to develop this

Show More
Related

  • Pros And Cons Of Genetic Engineering In Harrison Bergeron

    698 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Pros and Cons of Genetic Engineering also show that genetic engineering can lead to overpopulation and wars. First of all, in Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., everyone is the same and they have strict laws. In Harrison Bergeron, people are made to be the same by putting weights on strong people, making beautiful people wear ugly masks, and hindering smart people’s thoughts. In Jonas’ community, there is Sameness, which is making everything the

    Read More

  • Essay On The Movie Gattaca

    593 Words  | 3 Pages

    1. The movie Gattaca is based on a man named Vincent Anton who lived in a fictional future in which the genetic pedigree of individuals determined their place in society. Vincent’s parents had him genetically screened for illnesses when he was only a zygote, but his parents decided that they wanted a son from God, one whose genome had not been manipulated. This decision haunted Vincent’s life from the very beginning. When he was born, the nurses asked what the name of the child would be.

    Read More

  • Science Vs. Progress In The Progressive Era

    897 Words  | 4 Pages

    In today’s world, you can have your baby with blue eyes, perfect height, and how you want your baby to look when is old. Now we can even make a baby be born smart because now scientists are more specialized in genetic and how the genes work. For example, if women can’t have babies she can rent a belly from another woman so she can have the baby but the baby is going to have the DNA of the women who can’t have babies, not of the other woman. Is pretty impressive how today scientist can modify genetically the genes of babies before they are even born. Now in today’s world is almost possible to create the perfect baby if we want.

    Read More

  • Genetic Engineering In Gattaca

    461 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the movie “Gattaca”, directed by Andrew Niccol, Niccol indicates how in the future we are going to depend on technology. As well as in how we are going to become more of an unrealized expectation. It was demonstrated as genetic engineering. For example, they would get a piece of what you wanted your child to have such as height, gender, and skills. Which is bad in my opinion, Therefore, I will have to say that I disagree with the use of wanting to use Genetic engineering for childbirth for the following reasons.

    Read More

  • Gattaca

    683 Words  | 3 Pages

    Thoughtful Science Fiction - Gattaca Gattaca (1997) is a film directed by Andrew Niccol that is based on the science of genetic engineering. It portrays a world in which scientific proof becomes the basis for discrimination. While society holds it as a truth, genes are a primary factor that determine the success of an individual. The film revolves around the Protagonist Vincent Freeman (Ethan Hawke), who is ignored and excluded from most aspects of society. His life is limited to the ‘second best’ option.

    Read More

  • Symbolism In Gattaca

    1220 Words  | 5 Pages

    Considering a society in which myopia or obesity are direct signs of imperfect chromosomes, and lead to a path of discrimination, Gattaca underlines the importance of physical perfection as a necessity to survive in the futuristic world. Juxtaposing this with societal values in the 1990s, the obsession with physical perfection is still prevalent with the availability of plastic surgery, hair and makeup salons and protein powders and slimming pills, all to allowing individuals to achieve societies idea of perfection and thereby become a successful member and role model in society. Considering Eugene, who was engineered to be the ‘perfect human’, a “9.7, (…) a catch” yet he achieves only second place in his swimming race, showing Niccol’s belief that success is not guaranteed through DNA, imposing the idea that someone may always be better, faster and

    Read More

  • Genetic Engineering In The Movie 'Gattaca'

    660 Words  | 3 Pages

    Genetic Engineering The main character in the movie, Vincent Freeman is an invalid as a result of his heart failure and is not able to make it to space because his DNA can be tested at all times, showing he is in-valid and unworthy of high-level occupations such as spaceflight. He disguised himself as Jerome Morrow, a genetically modified human to the best specifics who is crippled because of an accident, he works his way into Gattaca, to reach his goal of making it to outer space. In Genetic engineering, scientists take a human embryo, created from an egg and a sperm cell, then they change one or more gene sequences by taking out a nucleotide, adding a nucleotide, changing the base pair, or sometimes even taking out full sequences of DNA.

    Read More

  • Gattaca Film Analysis

    1171 Words  | 5 Pages

    The box office flop movie, Gattaca, which initially failed to recoup its own production cost, is a genius philosophical work that challenges extremity in the work of Science; specifically, humans developed out of genetic engineering. This film is about an individual’s determination to rise beyond limitations placed upon him, by the society. His determination enables him to not only achieve his dreams but also free himself both literally and figuratively from these constraints. The film can be looked at from three scenes to define its goal.

    Read More

  • Francis Fukuyama Genetic Engineering Summary

    781 Words  | 4 Pages

    Fukuyama starts off the writing by looking at some of the advances that genetic engineering has made, along with genetic advances that are still a work in progress. Fukuyama first mentions about how the Human

    Read More

  • Gattaca Genetic Engineering Analysis

    980 Words  | 4 Pages

    A world of drastic genetic engineering, and a complete separation of the genetically elite and those naturally born seems like a scenario that will never come to be. However, this seemingly far off universe depicted in the film Gattaca, may come to be much sooner than one would expect. Gattaca illustrates a world in which genetic mutation has come to be considered the “natural” form of birth, while children born without genetic mutation have come to be considered dirty and lesser than those of genetic superiority. Although this world has nearly eliminated many forms of illness and disease, it leaves much to be desired. This world fosters elitism, hate, and segregation among other negative traits, and ultimately produces an extremely negative environment that prevents humans from reaching their true potentials.

    Read More

  • Germline Engineering Argument

    1199 Words  | 5 Pages

    Germline engineering is a version of genetic engineering that involves the alteration of genes of the parental gametes, or very early developed embryo to either cure or prevent disease it can also be used to enhance genes for more favorable traits. Controversy has surrounded the concept of nonmedical germline engineering since its introduction. In recent years, Julian Savulescu has been a prominent figure siding with the nonmedical germline engineering during this essay I will explain his argument in defense of the usage of germline engineering to enhance human beings and evaluate his argument with accurate responses from Michael J. Sandel along with my own educated view on disputing the

    Read More

  • Germ-Line Gene Therapy Ethics

    248 Words  | 1 Pages

    This unit has greatly increased my knowledge of genetic technology, and my understanding of different perspectives on the ethicality of its use. Unlike somatic cell therapy (treating genetic disorders by replacing genes in certain body cells of living people), which has gained extensive approval for clinical uses on humans, germ-line gene therapy (GGT) is a far more controversial method of performing genetic engineering on an unborn embryo, to change all of the DNA that will make up that baby as it grows up. In my detailed study of GGT, where I went into quite extensive learning on the full process of recombinant DNA and genome editing (with technology like CRISPR), I discovered that the general public fear the capabilities of GGT in creating

    Read More

  • Gene Therapy Informative Speech

    1418 Words  | 6 Pages

    For that reason, I believe it is important to learn about this upcoming breakthrough in the science and medical field. C. Speaker Credibility: As a Biology major I have learned about DNA and cells and taken my research to the next step by studying how genes work. I also conducted an interview with my biology lab teaching assistant to learn more about the process. D. Thesis: Learning about the promise of gene therapy is important because it could change the future of medicine forever, impacting our lives, our kids’ lives and so on. E. Preview of Main Points:

    Read More

  • Genetic Discrimination Effects

    1640 Words  | 7 Pages

    Introduction This paper will explore the notion of genetic discrimination and its effects on the population currently then the future. This topic is quite controversial because of the flexible laws that are put in place. It is also a controversial topic because of its age. The length that genetic discrimination has been a problem is significantly shorter than many issues that are discussed in this manner.

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Genetic Engineering

    779 Words  | 4 Pages

    This essay will look more on the advantages and disadvantages of genetic engineering. Genetic engineering has some advantages. Firstly it allows for faster growth rate .Genetic engineering allows of plants or animals to be modified so their maturity can occur at a quicker pace outside of the normal growth conditions that are favourable without genetic changes as well .Secondly, it may also provide a cure for disease to improve health (apecsecadmin, 2014). Genetic engineering can be used to eradicate a number of incurable and deadly disease which could be done by identifying the genes that cause these disease, and manipulate them to prevent people from contracting these potentially deadly diseases.

    Read More

More about Genetic Technology As Depicted In The Film 'Gattaca'

Open Document