Biotechnology Applications Shown In The Film Gattaca
Biotechnology is the use of technology and organisms to produce useful products. While watching GATTACA, there were different types of ways biotechnology were used in the films. Three biotechnology applications shown in the film were Genetic Engineering, Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis, and DNA Fingerprint scanners.
While watching this movie, Genetic Engineering was used on Anton (Vincent’s younger brother) and many other people in this film. Genetic Engineering is the process of genetically modifying someone and allows the parents to choose which genes the child should have.
The second biotechnology used in this film was Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD). While watching GATTACA, parents who have a history of genetic disorders in the family may choose to use a process that allows for the diagnosis of genetic disorders soon after fertilization. For example, this technology was used on Vincent’s younger brother, Anton, to check if he had any genetic disorders, as well as picking out his genotype after he was born.
During the film, DNA fingerprint scanners were used to show the identity of each person to tell if they were invalid or valid. For example, Vincent Freeman is not genetically modified and is an invalid. However, he wears fake fingerprints over his own so the DNA Fingerprint scanner won’t recognize his actual fingerprint.
If these advances in biotechnology were implanted in our society it would impact the world in many ways because of its massive potential. With these advances, biotechnology could lead humanity into a new era of research and discovery and can help humans improve medicine and agriculture, help us live longer and healthier, etc. Also, the crime may be easier to catch because of DNA Fingerprint scanners and many more. However, with all these advances in biotechnology, the world might be greatly affected by this because everyone would want to have the same thing, such as superior genes, a long life, a life without diseases and many more.
I believe these biotechnologies should not be used today because if biotechnologies such as genetic engineering were used today, then everybody would want to look or have the same traits. For example, everybody would also want to be attractive, have blue eyes, be taller, etc. I believe that everybody should be different from everyone else because that’s what makes humans unique. If everybody had the same or similar characteristics and traits as everybody else, then the world would be filled with more robots/clones instead of actual humans. God created us differently, so that we can help each other. Biotechnologies should not be used today because it could lead humanity down the path of ecological devastation and humans can probably become extinct if we keep trying to make a better version of ourselves.
GATTACA has taught me the many uses of biotechnology and why we are also better off without them. Biotechnology may have some pros such as superior genes however, it still is extremely risky and doesn’t change the fact that if we overuse it, we will become to dependent on it that we can’t do anything by ourselves.
