The Pros And Cons Of Genetic Modification

There is a public perception about biotechnology- especially genetic modification. It does not matter if the genetic modification is about foods, plants or organisms, there is a particular perception for each one of them. For example, drugs that were genetically modified are “deemed an important maker in the history of medicine(Genetic Engineering para. 5). However, crops, have “much less debate about their benefits to humankind(para. 5). Most of these public perception about genetic modification is caused by the media portrayal. For example, “the negative impact of what he called ‘Frackenfood,’ adopting the title of Franskenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus, the 1818 novel about a monster created in a laboratory that turns on its creator and

Biotechnology, specifically, genetic modification, are viewed in a particular way. GATTACA is a movie about creating an eugenic society where people are genetically modified at birth- inheriting the best traits of their parents- to conceive the “ideal” man or women(Niccol, GATTACA). Before Vincent Freeman was born, his younger brother- Anton, was genetically modified to be tall, strong, and have no possible diseases(GATTACA). In other words, Anton was genetically modified in a society where eugenic is favored. This scene emphasizes the aspect of biotechnology that genetic modification is an useful technology. However, as useful or handy genetic modification is, there are ethics and morals behind genetic modification. Therefore, media portrays genetic modification as either “good”- positive, or “bad”- negative. Later, Vincents monologues, how even though discrimination, based on a person's DNA, is illegal, it is still done by testing DNA left behind(GATTACA). In simplified words, he explains how genetic modification has formed discrimination between the valid and in-valid. Because in-valid are being discriminated, this establishes how genetic modification is an unacceptable biotechnology; therefore, media portray genetic modification in a negative impression. Eventually, in one scene, an image of Vincent with the word

Monroe, The Hunger Games also portray biotechnology. The Hunger games encounter a particular biotechnology when reading the book. According to Katniss, “During the rebellion, the Capitol bred a series of genetically altered animals as weapons. The common term for them was muttations, or sometimes mutts for short. One was a special bird called a jabberjay that had the ability to memorize and repeat whole humans conversations” (Collins 42). The Capitol develop a biotechnology to genetically modified animals. The Capitol is similar to any government, they both have a leader is run by him or her. The interpretation that their government is genetically modifying animals to listen into the masses is like a military ruling or fascist ruling. In addition, Katniss mentions, “the Capitol’s muttations, tracker jackers”(185). Like the jabberjay, the tracker jacker were genetically modified wasps to track and sting people when disturbed. They were used in the games. Because these “muttations” or “mutts” were used by the Capitol for malicious purposes it, it gives off the intention that genetic modification is used for villainous and personal gain. Thus, giving genetic modification a negative impression. As previously mention, the Capitol is similar, in an impression that it is a government, so the concept of any organization having ability to genetically modified organism and could be used for malicious purposes is a concerning trend. As a reader,