The film ‘Gattaca’ explores the differences and conflicts between genetically engineered humans and natural humans. It investigates whether people would still prefer natural humans if genetic engineering didn’t affect ability, and what the basis for that choice would be.
Released in 1998, the film ‘Gattaca’ centers on the various conflicts arising between genetically engineered humans and naturally born humans. Set in a future society where genetic engineering technology has advanced, the film depicts a world where human genetic traits can be artificially selected. The protagonist, Vincent, was born naturally without genetic modification, by his parents’ choice. Vincent, born naturally, was an unhealthy child with a 99.9% chance of heart defects and an expected lifespan of 30.2 years. His parents were deeply disappointed upon receiving the genetic test results, and their perspective on Vincent naturally began to shift. Born as a result of natural birth, Vincent had to grow up with many limitations in terms of health and ability.
Later, his disappointed parents hoped to avoid these problems for Vincent’s sibling by having a custom-made human. Visiting a genetic engineering facility that creates custom humans, Vincent’s parents selected various genetic traits, including the child’s gender, skin color, and hair color, choosing an embryo with improved genes to ensure no diseases or disabilities. Thus, Anton, Vincent’s younger brother, was born—physically and intellectually superior to Vincent in every way. Born as a custom-made human, Anton grew up in an environment entirely different from Vincent’s. From childhood, he boasted exceptional physical strength and intelligence, becoming the embodiment of his parents’ expectations. Watching his brother, Vincent felt a deep sense of inferiority and had to live constantly aware of his own limitations.
As an adult, Vincent harbors a dream he’s held since childhood: to become an astronaut. However, his health condition and genetic information impose significant constraints on achieving this dream. The society he lives in discriminates against people based on their genetic information, and an atmosphere prevails where an individual’s potential and possibilities are judged by their genes. Despite his parents’ and society’s judgment that his genetic limitations would prevent him from becoming an astronaut, Vincent refuses to abandon his dream. He strives to overcome his limitations through relentless effort and willpower.
The film starkly depicts the difference between customized humans and natural humans. Designer humans are free from congenital genetic diseases and possess superior physical and intellectual abilities. Consequently, Vincent, born a natural human, constantly faces discrimination and requires far greater effort than others to achieve his dream. The film concludes with Vincent overcoming numerous obstacles to finally become an astronaut, powerfully conveying that human will and the pursuit of dreams can transcend genetic limitations.
If people were asked whether they would prefer to be born a natural human or a custom-made human, as depicted in the film ‘Gattaca,’ most would likely choose the custom-made option. Everyone naturally dreams of a life with superior physical abilities, health, and outstanding intellectual capacity. But let’s imagine a slightly different world. Imagine a world where manipulating human genes results in no visible differences in apparent abilities or functional capabilities. In this case, the only distinction between natural humans and engineered humans would be whether genetic modification was performed or not. Beyond that, no other differences exist.
If people were asked again in such a world, what choice would they make this time? Probably more people would say, ‘Still, I’d prefer to be a natural human,’ and choose to be natural. Why do people prefer natural humans so much? Is this simply a matter of prejudice, or is there a valid reason for it? It is fascinating to explore this question in depth.
First, in this hypothetical world, natural humans and customized humans are fundamentally identical. Natural Human A and Customized Human A might have slightly different genetic sequences, or they might be perfectly identical. The only difference is whether their genes were manipulated. Some might argue that because Custom Human A’s genes were altered, there is an essential difference from Natural Human A. However, this is not true. Whether I am born as a Custom Human or a Natural Human, all the elements that shape me—my physical abilities, mental capacities, personality, parents, etc.—remain identical. Manipulating part of the genes does not change human essence.
Furthermore, human genes can change in various ways even after birth. For example, suppose natural human A develops a genetic disease at age 20 and receives gene therapy. Gene therapy is the process of correcting faulty genes through artificial manipulation. The natural human A before receiving this treatment and the A after treatment would clearly be genetically different. But can we say these two beings are fundamentally different humans? Regardless of whether gene therapy was applied, they remain the same human A. Thus, genetic manipulation does not affect human essence, and there is no fundamental difference between natural humans and customized humans.
Some express concern that customized humans could exacerbate social discrimination. They argue that in a world like Gattaca, introducing customized humans would lead to discrimination against natural humans by those with superior physical and mental abilities, deepening inequality. However, in the world we’ve assumed, this problem does not arise. If there is no functional difference between natural humans and customized humans, there is no reason for discrimination to occur based on the superiority of customized humans. Furthermore, attempts by parents to abnormally manipulate their children’s genes to produce customized humans with superior abilities would also be impossible in the world we have assumed.
Park Kyu-min of the Department of Electrical and Information Engineering expressed concern in ‘Problems with a World of Custom-Made Humans – After Watching the Movie ‘Gattaca’’ that if custom-made humans were permitted, all children would possess ‘dominant genes,’ thereby weakening genetic diversity. However, this too is not a problem within the previously described assumptions. Even if born as custom-made humans, their genes would still be diverse, and genetic diversity could be sufficiently maintained.
Ultimately, people instinctively tend to prefer the ‘original’ and the ‘natural’. Just as there is a difference in taste between original food and imitation food, people hold the belief that natural is better. However, under the premise that natural humans and customized humans have no functional differences whatsoever, differing only in whether they were genetically modified, such preferences could be meaningless. Therefore, we can conclude that there is no essential difference between natural humans and customized humans, and I too would answer, “It makes no difference whether they are natural humans or customized humans.”
