Imagine you live in a world where your entire life is predetermined by your DNA. A world where genetic engineering is commonplace and your social and professional destiny is determined at birth by all of your As, Cs, Ts, and Gs.
This is the chilling reality depicted in the classic 1997 film GATTACA. Although it is over 25 years old and was released before the completion of the Human Genome Project, GATTACA continues to spark important conversations about the use of genetic technology and genetic information in our society.
Together with our special guest, Dr. Tom May, we explore the ethical implications of such a society, highlighting issues of free will versus determinism, the power to decide desirable traits, and the importance of genetic diversity. Listen to Tiny Expeditions Season 5, Episode 4, “Designing Destiny: Ethics of Genetic Engineering,” to learn about the ethical, social, and legal ramifications of using our genetic makeup to re-engineer ourselves and the world around us.
Behind the Scenes
Leading into this episode, we had a little more homework than usual: watch an entire feature-length film. That’s right, neither one of us had seen GATTACA before despite working at a research institute that focuses much of its work on genetics and genomics. Luckily, our expert guest, Dr. Thomas May, has seen the movie several times since he views it as a must-watch for individuals working in the genetics field. Tom is a bioethicist and Floyd and Judy Rogers Endowed Professor at Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. He is also an adjunct faculty member at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology.
The thing that struck me (Sarah) most about the movie was that in 1997 before we had very advanced DNA technology, the writers and producers were able to make so many moderately true predictions about the future of the field.
No, we’re not doing whole genome sequencing on every baby at birth, but we are genotyping them for some medically actionable diseases at birth.
No, we cannot calculate the age you will die by looking at your DNA, but we have come far in our understanding of genetic predisposition for many diseases.
No, you can’t walk up to a teller at a window and have a DNA sample sequenced in a matter of seconds, but you can send a sample of your own DNA to a genotyping company and get detailed information back about your ancestry, certain traits, and disease predispositions.
The one thing that GATTACA really pushed the limits on, which is why it was a major focus of the episode, is the idea of creating “genetically elite” humans. In GATTACA, couples were still allowed the choice of whether or not to have children naturally. However, the societal repercussions on said children conceived through natural means were almost enough to steer most couples to use genetic interventions. Individuals not conceived through genetic engineering, deemed “in-valids” in the movie, were given the lowest jobs and looked down on in society.
While we did not use this term during the episode, what we’re describing here is usually referred to as eugenics. Supporters of the eugenics movement believe that it is possible to improve the human race by practicing selective breeding. Individuals with alleged negative inheritable traits are discouraged from reproducing (usually by legal consequences, segregation, or other more forceful means like forced sterilization). Those with desirable inheritable traits are encouraged to reproduce.
The practice of eugenics is not new; the term was coined in the late 1800s by Francis Galton. His definition of eugenics proves that it was born out of racism and xenophobia: the study of agencies under social control that may improve or impair the racial qualities of future generations, either physically or mentally.
Like in GATTACA, eugenic beliefs are based on the inaccurate view that abstract human qualities like intelligence and social behaviors are based on simple genetic inheritance. In the scientific community, we know that is just not true. Most of those qualities are likely a very complicated interplay of multiple genetic and environmental factors.
The most widely known modern application of eugenics was in Nazi Germany when Adolf Hitler and his followers set out to “cleanse” the German population of those they deemed unworthy. They murdered millions of people and led a campaign of forced sterilization that claimed almost half a million lives. Jewish people and other marginalized ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals were the main targets.
GATTACA turns this narrative on its head by presenting this type of prejudice and discrimination in a more sterile, scientific package. Using genetics to select the “perfect individuals” before conception removes the graphic details of eliminating the “in-valids” but opens a larger ethical can of worms.During the episode, we discussed some of the troubling implications of eugenics and genetic engineering as portrayed in GATTACA. A core theme we explored was the age-old question of free will versus fate. The film presents a world where a person’s destiny is seemingly predetermined by their genetic makeup. This concept, which is a form of determinism, suggests that our lives are dictated by our DNA, with little room for personal agency.
The powers at be in the film ignore the notion that environmental factors and fate also play into a person’s life outcomes. The main character acknowledges the idea, saying, “There is no gene for fate,” when referring to a genetically “valid” character’s accident that led to his paralysis. Individuals in the movie may be genetically engineered with everything they need to succeed, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they will because so much more than genetics plays a role in who we are as human beings.
The social structure in GATTACA tries to remove free will by pressuring couples to use genetic selection before pregnancy and posing limitations on individuals based on their genetic makeup. However, the main character represents the power of free will. Born without genetic intervention, he overcomes discrimination and defies the limitations that were unfairly thrust upon him at birth.
The second issue concerns the idea that one person or group of people decides what is a desirable or undesirable human trait. For Nazi Germany and much of Europe in the mid-1900s, Adolf Hitler and his followers were the ones choosing desirable traits. In GATTACA, it seems to be the geneticists, as we see in the scene where Vincent’s parents visit with a geneticist in advance of their second pregnancy.
Geneticist: You have specified hazel eyes, dark hair, and fair skin. I’ve taken the liberty of eradicating any potentially prejudicial conditions. Premature baldness, myopia… alcoholism and addictive susceptibility… propensity for violence, obesity, etc.”
Vincent’s Mother: We didn’t want… Diseases, yes, but… (looks at husband)
Vincent’s Father: We were just wondering if, if it is good to just leave a few things to, to chance?
Geneticist: We want to give your child the best possible start. Believe me, we have enough imperfection built in already. Your child doesn’t need any more additional burdens. Keep in mind this child is still you. Simply, the best of you. You could conceive naturally a thousand times and never get such a result.
The geneticist took it upon himself to “eradicate” a whole bunch of traits from this couple’s future embryos without consulting with them about whether those traits were important to them. This takes the parents’ choice away and forces them to use unwanted genetic intervention. Most disturbingly, it highlights a power imbalance where a medical professional unilaterally decides the value of certain human traits, potentially leading to a slippery slope of eugenics and discrimination.
This is also a prime example of “designer babies,” where parents can select specific attributes for their offspring. The concept raises profound ethical questions. Will this lead to a society where physical attributes, intelligence, or even personality are determined before birth? What happens to those who don’t fit the mold? This kind of genetic engineering could exacerbate existing inequalities, creating a new form of elitism based on genetic makeup, as we see in GATTACA.
The final problem is that diversity is crucial for the survival and adaptability of all life on Earth. It is the foundation of our ability to thrive in diverse environments and respond to challenges like disease. By eliminating certain traits, we risk creating a genetic bottleneck, limiting our species’ capacity to evolve and face future unknowns. In essence, genetic diversity is the insurance policy for humanity, and the actions depicted in GATTACA jeopardize that policy for short-sighted gain.
Movies like GATTACA are useful for sparking conversations about tricky topics like gene editing in humans and forced genetic intervention. We are lucky that we have experts like Dr. Tom May to help us wade through these conversations and consider the ethical, social, and legal ramifications of using our growing collection of genetic tools and information.
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