May 24, 2006
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Can science really plan your life?
So I had recently jumped onboard with the movie rental service, Netflix, to rent movies and tv shows that I had been meaning to watch, but too lazy(or scared) to walk into a Blockbuster. The service is pretty neat and you get two weeks of free service. (End blatant advertisement here)
Either case, yesterday, my best friend and I sat down and watched the movie, Gattaca. It wasn’t a big hit when it came out years ago, but the concept was pretty interesting, especially in light of recent genetic advances. The premise of the movie is that one day science will eventually have the tools and abilities to create humans that have the most “desirable” qualities of humanity. In other words, families would be able to create “designer babies.” Children shaped and designed on the genetic level. The downside of this kind of technology is that as more and more families choose this path, those who cannot afford or unwilling to change their children’s genes, will find that their children will have less opportunities available to them vs. those who were genetically enhanced.
In summary, the movie follows a hero, who was born as a “God-child”, ie. unaltered genes, as he cleverly tricks and bypasses the genetic-testing system of his day in order to obtain the dream of going into outer-space, a profession, if judged by his DNA, would have been impossible. Of course, there’s the usual drama, romance, and close calls, but the movie does end on a positive note with a definite stance. One’s ambition and desire to accomplish a goal, can push one beyond his/her “potential” and become something greater than what his/her genes say they will become.
I had a feeling that I might like this movie, and thankfully I did. It does bring up some interesting questions in our day as when the movie was made, we still hadn’t completely mapped the human genome. However, in recent weeks, the completion of the GENOME project is here. Scientists are already discovering the genes that lead to cancer and other terminal diseases. This is a good thing.
I have to admit, however, that there is something scary and almost “egotitical” about the fact that we human beings have devised a method and interpretation on what makes us tick. Even now there is talk amongst scientists that believe they can reverse the aging process now, or to significantly delay it by isolating or eradicating the gene that causes our bodies to age. Crazy talk at the present moment, but who knows what they might find in the GENOME.
I think years ago, back in my atheistical/agnostic days, I probably would have assumed that we would be wiser and more cautious with this technology. These days though, with all these news and this movie, I find myself of the opinion that humans are always on a course to “reverse the curse.” We try to predict the future, set our destinies, yet in the end, we find again and again, that we can’t control anything really, except on how we react.
For now, I’ll just go with what I know & believe.
“For..Through…By…In…To… Him“
