LITR 4632: Literature of the Future

Student Presentation, 2001

Presenter: Jay Knickerbocker

recorder: Joseph Rainwater

Tuesday, 19 June 2001

The Evolution of Discrimination.

Film: Gattaca

Objective:

1.To show the dystopia created when man decides to play "God" with the Human matrix DNA.

2. To show the evolutionary aspect of Human self-manipulation.

Summary:

A couple falls in love and decides to have a child naturally without scientific help. The result is a son, Vincent who is raised in a world where most of the upper class is born "perfect." Meaning these upper-class newborns were born tailor made by scientists to the parent’s specification. The world now has a new way to discriminate, not by color, but by the blood running in one‘s veins. People who are born naturally have little chance at getting ahead in life due to their imperfections; Vincent defies these boundaries by going under the guise of an altered person.

Sources:

1. Gattaca. Directed by Andrew m. Niccol. Columbia Pictures.1997.

A film of the dangers of DNA manipulation.

2. http://accessexcelence.com/ab/WYW/wkbooks/sfts/index.html

This website contains the particulars on some genetic information.

3. Goodfield, June. Playing God. New York, NY: Random house, 1977.

This book shows the world while people are playing "God" with human DNA.

4. http:// www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~cahge

A great site for argument regarding Human research.

Questions:

1. Could Human manipulation of DNA lead to a new form of discrimination?

2. Is DNA research just one more step in man’s evolution? Could this just be like the discovery of fire? Is man just altering himself to suit the world to come? Is man using his mind to shake off his imperfections, like nature using its power by deleting the use of such things like the appendix and tonsils?

After the movie the class agreed to the first question. The majority of the discussion fell on the subject to job discrimination. Some students felt that major business would discriminate based on information obtained in the DNA code. While others felt that big business would not care as much. Moreover, a large part of the discussion rallied toward if DNA manipulation was the next step in mankind’s evolution. The point was made that our imperfections are what we learn from, thus we need them in one way or the other. In the end, the majority did not really agree with DNA manipulation, but there was a small consensus to the point brought up by a student that parents if given the choice will pick the stronger embryo. I believe that there are some long term benefits to DNA manipulation, but I also believe that if left unchecked the long-term implications will not be in favor of the common man.