In this blog post, I explore the class divisions in future society brought about by genetic engineering and the resulting tragic fates depicted in the film GATTACA.
I watched the film ‘GATTACA’. From the moment I first encountered the title, it was a distinctive name that stuck with me. ‘GATTACA’, which also appears as the name of the top aerospace corporation in the film, is formed by combining the letters representing the human DNA sequence: A (adenine), C (cytosine), G (guanine), and T (thymine). The use of ‘GATTACA’ in the film’s title and as the name of its central corporation reveals the film’s focus on DNA genetics. The plot follows the story of the protagonist ‘Vincent’, born with inferior genes through natural conception. He strives harder than anyone to achieve his dream of working for a space airline. However, solely because of his ‘inferior’ genetic makeup, he faces discrimination that prevents him from even reaching the starting point of the career he desperately desires. Just as he is about to give up on his dream, he meets ‘Jerome Morrow’. ‘Jerome Morrow’ is a highly promising swimmer, a person possessing ‘superior’ genes. With Jerome’s help, Vincent conceals his inferior genes and borrows superior ones to gain employment at his dream workplace, GATTACA. He passes the daily identity checks—which examine not only his appearance but also Jerome’s urine, blood, and skin grafts—and gradually approaches his dream of becoming an astronaut. Released in 1997, this film delivers an important message about the problems and dangers that genetic engineering could cause in the near future. I want to share my thoughts on the future of genetic engineering, as seen through the movie ‘GATTACA’, in this blog.
If genetic engineering could ensure that a child inherits only the parents’ superior genes and strengths, few people would oppose it. In the film, ‘Vincent’, born through natural conception, is branded an ‘in-valid’ – socially unfit – with a 60% chance of neurological disease, 40% chance of depression, 89% chance of attention deficit disorder, 99% chance of heart disease, and an expected lifespan of 30.2 years. In contrast, his younger brother ‘Anton’ was born through artificial insemination with genetic modification, preventing all disease possibilities before they arose. From birth, his starting point was different from ‘Vincent’s’. Looking only at this point, one might think genetic modification through artificial insemination offers hopeful and positive effects for everyone. In reality, genetic modification is a highly useful technology for humans, currently being researched in many fields with ongoing efforts to apply it.
For example, the human body produces insulin, an essential hormone. However, insulin production can be insufficient due to congenital or acquired causes, leading to diabetes. To prevent diabetes, insulin must be supplemented. However, even healthy individuals produce insulin in very small quantities. Therefore, until now, insulin has been extracted from animals like cows or pigs for use. Yet, animal insulin differs structurally from human insulin, potentially causing seizures in sensitive individuals. However, through genetic engineering research, scientists discovered that by cutting out the gene responsible for producing insulin in the human body and combining it with E. coli DNA, then injecting this into E. coli to multiply, the bacteria can produce human insulin. Furthermore, because E. coli divides rapidly, once every 20 minutes, it became possible to mass-produce insulin. This led to the ability to supply insulin to insulin-dependent diabetes patients at a low cost. Thus, genetic engineering has opened diverse possibilities, ranging from simple diabetes treatments to cures for various dangerous diseases. Moreover, as depicted in the film, genetic engineering could potentially create lives free from all diseases through artificial insemination. Until now, I had only seen the advantages of genetic engineering and supported it with a fragmented mindset.
However, after watching this film, I was able to reconsider the dark side lurking behind that fragmented thinking. As mentioned earlier, if we could eliminate inferior genes through genetic engineering and possess only superior genes, it would bring positive results where people wouldn’t be discriminated against due to innate characteristics. Yet, this film warns against the opposite scenario. Vincent, who didn’t receive the benefits of genetic engineering, studied more passionately and diligently than anyone else toward his dream of becoming an astronaut. Yet, solely because his genes were deemed inferior, he wasn’t even given the chance to pursue that dream. He could only find vicarious satisfaction working as a janitor at his dream workplace, GATTACA. Conversely, ‘Jerome Morrow’, who possesses superior genes and impersonates Vincent, could become an elite astronaut thanks to his superior genetics, even lacking the knowledge and skills required for the role. This is a profoundly unequal situation. Regardless of an individual’s ability or will, a simple genetic test classifies them as ‘valid’ if their genes are superior and ‘in-valid’ if inferior, effectively creating a class system for human beings.
So, would providing everyone with the opportunity for genetic modification create a level playing field? Even a moment’s thought reveals this is a claim detached from reality. In fact, the technology depicted in the film ‘GATTACA’ already exists in reality. The controversial ‘Bio Tech’ procedures enabling the creation of so-called ‘Super babies’ through genetic manipulation are prohibitively expensive. Consequently, the lower classes would give birth naturally, while the upper classes would conceive through artificial insemination, only accelerating the cycle of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. If genetic manipulation is permitted, the future will see people discriminated against based on genetic level rather than ability or knowledge, ultimately leading to a genetic class society where status is determined by genes. This would result in an unfortunate regression, no different from the class-based society of the Joseon Dynasty’s yangban and commoners.
“Determining whether something is possible or not is up to you!”
“I don’t hold back any strength to defeat you!”
These two lines are memorable scenes from the movie. We’ve heard such words countless times before, in famous books, lectures, and elsewhere. I, too, have always considered them self-evident truths, even if I haven’t always understood or practiced them. Yet after watching this film, I realized that if genetic manipulation were permitted, those born with ‘inferior’ genes would inevitably be born with an insurmountable fate. Like the characters in the film, even if they retained the strength to return, they would have nowhere to go back to. If genetic modification ensured everyone was born with a ‘valid’ destiny, there would be no need or reason to oppose it. But if human genetic modification becomes permissible in the near future, humanity will inevitably be divided into ‘in-valid’ and ‘valid’ groups. I believe this will lead not to a happy and healthy future for our species, but to a superficial, glossy facade concealing an unhappy future.
