Blog #5: The “Other” and Gattaca

       Genetic engineering is used to enhance or change ones genetic traits to create a better vision of what is being genetically changed. This practice of trying to perfect one’s genes can be both good and bad since a person that is born and has undergone genetic engineering before birth is likely to perform better life’s task but can be overly perfected to the point whereas they may feel like they may see themselves as better than everyone else.

       In the movie Gattica a boy named Anton was genetically enhanced before birth due to the imperfect birth of Vincent who had a life expectancy of about age 30. Due to Anton’ perfections Vincent was looked as weak by his entire family including genetically enhanced Anton. The boys liked to have swimming competitions to test each other’s stamina. At first Anton won every race until Vincent one day became suicidal because he realized his limitations in life and he felt he didn’t deserve to live and Anton and Vincent had another race and since Vincent secretly gave up on life he decided to go past his limit not thinking of his disabilities and with intentions of killing himself. Anton however noticed his limit and decided not to push himself further and almost drowned until Vincent saved his life. In doing so Vincent discovered and realized his hidden potential.

         According to George j. Annas genetic engineering can be both good and bad he believes that either humans will try to over throw the new and improved humans or the new human will try to eliminate the regular humans to create a new civilization for themselves. This may be true since According to George people believe that genetic engineering being done on people violates people’s rights as human beings. According to George in 1946-1947 the Nazis doctors conducted experiments so painful that death was inevitable if you were a test subject. After World War 1the Nazis were put to trail for their war crimes. Some were sentenced to death some received life in prison for their crimes. The Nazis ran concentration camps full of mostly Jews and tortured and experimented on them. The Nazis viewed the Jews as a sub human race and tried to commit genocide to extinguish them all.

       Genetic engineering would not only be used for the better but was also used to torture. The person who is genetically enhanced like in “Gattica” Anton feels as if he is better than Vincent so he shows off his strength. In the man on the moon genetic engineering is not very liked by the people and they feel it violates human rights.