Ang Kape Ni LaTtEX

One of the most beautiful science fiction movies I’ve ever seen is Gattaca.

This movie, released in 1997, starred Ethan Hawke as Vincent Freeman. Vincent is an “in-valid”; he was conceived thru purely natural means; in a world that is now dominated by the first generation of genetically engineered, “valid” children.

These “valid” children were conceived by using in-vitro fertilization and, using advanced genetic engineering techniques, all sorts of diseases and physical imperfections were removed from their embryos to be able to create nearly perfect human beings.

In this world, in-valids like Vincent were relegated to minor tasks and menial jobs while valids like his younger brother, Anton (played by Loren Dean), take on “real” careers. Vincent, as a janitor in the Gattaca Aerospace Corporation, dreamt about becoming an astronaut and travelling to the Saturn moon Titan. His opportunity to achieve that dream came when a valid named Jerome Morrow (played by Jude Law) suffered paralysis and, to be able to save his name and legacy, hired Vincent to take on his identity. However, a murder within the Gattaca facility threatens to reveal Vincent’s big secret, and prevent him from achieving his dream of boarding the ship to Titan.

This morning I tuned into the National Geographic Channel and was somewhat alarmed after watching the National Geographic Special entitled Who’s Afraid of Designer Babies?

The program discusses about a company based in Sydney, Australia that uses Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD). PGD is a method to test embryos for genetic disorders before they are reimplanted in the uterus. It involves extracting several egg cells from a female, which are then fertilized in-vitro with her husband’s sperm. After a few days, properly fertilized embryos are then tested for the presence of disease-causing genes. This allows a couple to select an embryo that has none or few disease-causing genes, which in their hope will prevent the child from inheriting any congenital disease.

PGD is also used to be able to select the gender of an embryo; after several embryos are analyzed, the couple can then ask for either a male or a female embryo to be reimplanted in the wife’s uterus.

What alarms me is the fact that the technology is effective, in an advanced stage, and is present right here, right now.

In a few more decades, it would most likely be possible to create near-perfect disease-free children. I fear that the technology would lead the world to a slippery-slope which winds down into a Gattaca-like society.

I hope it does not, but PGD definitely looks like the start towards one.