[ad_1]
A scientist in China made headlines this week claiming that his research team had managed to create the world's first genetically modified babies. If this is true, the experience raises many difficult ethical questions – those that traditional movies and TV shows have been exploring for decades.
The subject of genetic engineering is so prevalent in pop culture that it is almost a genre in itself. At the heart of these science-fiction portrayals is the question of whether the benefits of genetic engineering – that is, the healing potential of disease – outweigh the huge risks that go from Eugenics to involuntary mutations.
If we think of Hollywood, scientists should probably refrain from attempting to modify the human genome before birth until we are sure it is safe. Here are some examples that demonstrate how gene editing experiments tend to lead to plagues, genocides, general actions of super villains and other dystopian nightmares.
rampage
Warner Bros.
The sci-fi monster movie released earlier this year was notable for a reason other than Dwayne's "The Rock" show Johnson partnering with a giant gorilla to save the world – he mentioned his name Crispr. In the film, the Crispr research of a genetic engineer is stolen by a ghostly organization that uses it as a biological weapon, creating a pathogen that causes destruction by large mutant animals.
rampageThe premise is totally absurd: Crispr can not be used to build wolves a hundred feet tall. But this underscores the fact that gene editing tools can be used for harmful purposes.
Luke Cage
David Lee / Netflix
While Marvel's comics explain that Carl Lucas became the superhero Luke Cage via the super-soldier process (the same one that created Captain America), the character-based Netflix series updates his origins for 2018. In this series, a scientist uses Crispr to merge Lucas' DNA with that of an abalone to give humans superhuman strength and unbreakable skin.
Scientists are not close to being able to do this kind of thing successfully. But, in theory, Crispr could possibly be used in the same way to target human DNA chains, delete them and replace them with the DNA of another organism.
The Jennifer Lopez project at NBC
Jordan Strauss / Invision / AP
In 2016, NBC was working with Jennifer Lopez on a series of procedural thrillers entitled – No Joke –C.R.I.S.P.R. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the show was to follow an FBI agent who collaborates with a Center for Disease Control (CDC) scientist to put an end to biological attacks and DNA piracy, "he said. an attempt at genetic assassination against the president at the supervision of an unborn child for murder. "
The show has not been shot and its status is not clear (Quartz has contacted NBC for an update). But the mere idea that a large American network would consider broadcasting a television series specifically about revolutionary technology (and which gets its name!) Shows that it is becoming a real fodder for filmmakers.
The X-Files
Fox
The 10th final of the season The X-Files, "My Struggle II", presents a plot of Crispr, except that this time it was used in the man by extraterrestrials in order to erase the population of the Earth. The extraterrestrials have created a virus containing the code for Crispr, which eliminates an enzyme crucial for the immune function of humans. Only certain humans with extraterrestrial DNA (including Sully) are able to survive the virus. Intelligent extraterrestrials.
It was not the first time that the famous science fiction series explored genetic engineering, but it was his first mention of Crispr. And for any emerging technology, a mention on The X-Files is almost a rite of passage.
Stockbroker
Penguin Random House
Netflix opted for the rights of Daniel Suarez's novel Stockbroker, which takes place in a future where Crispr has become a daily tool of society. It is possible that the series is never realized, Netflix and other networks opting for a large number of books without ever adapting them for television. But clearly, Crispr is on the Hollywood radar.
TV Tropes, a vast resource listing all themes, clichés and trends in entertainment, includes a comprehensive category for what it calls LEGO Genetics. "With LEGO Genetics, you can manipulate the DNA where you want, intentionally or accidentally, and all cells will change overnight (if that happens)," says the site. "Wake up and hop! Wings! Fur! Gills! Muscular muscles! Giant brain! Stem cells!"
It is one of the most common tropes in the history of science fiction. Many movies and TV shows featuring LEGO genetics were created before the creation of Crispr and, now that it has been used for human creation, expect it to become an even more important part of cannon of science fiction. Until then, we will always have these gene modification stories to use:
- Planet of the Apes
- I'm a legend
- Spider-Man Trilogy
- Hulk
- X Men
- Star Trek
- Stargate
- Jurassic Park
- Annihilation
- Steel man
- Doctor Who
- The beauty and the beast (2012)
- Die another day
- Gattaca
- Blade runner
- dune
- The matrix
- The demolisher
Source link
