Reference no: EM133625138

Question: Now that you have read Lewontin's Gene and Organism, watched Gattaca, have taken the reading quiz and the film survey, and have gone into more detail about things in our class meeting, you have the opportunity for additional discussion. In this forum, you can share your perspective on the topic, ask questions for discussion or clarification, articulate further thoughts, and respond to your colleagues' questions and observations. • In case you are left with any questions about the reading or the film, please state them. (Posting that you have no questions is not a satisfactory response to this prompt.) • If there is anything that you find remarkable or problematic about the reading or the film that has not been addressed, please state it. (Posting that there is nothing that you find remarkable or problematic is not a satisfactory response to this prompt.) • Imagine you were planning to have children and our society had the ability to select genetic constellations for offspring in the way portrayed in Gattaca. Would you make use of this and have the best possible combination of your and your partner's genes selected or would you conceive naturally? What would be your reasons? • Should parents be allowed to choose the sex of their children? Why or why not? • In Gattaca, Vincent is telling his story and we are on his side. Is what he is doing, i.e. covering up a most likely fatal condition in order to get into the space program morally justifiable? • Gatttaca is science fiction but how far is it removed from reality? What would be examples of preexisting conditions affecting individuals' lives? In your opinion, as society, do we treat individuals with preexisting conditions fairly or do we need to do better? If so, what should we do? • Gattaca is science fiction but how far is it removed from history? Selecting for the supposedly best genes is an aspect of eugenics (literally, 'the science of good genes'). Do you know anything about the history of eugenics in the United States or other countries? Why is is disconcerting? In your opinion, what may be problematic with promoting a society of individuals who are exclusively carriers of 'good' genes? • Jerome suffers from the burden of perfection and the need to live up to his genetic profile. How do you evaluate the stance towards perfection in our society, independently of genetics. Do we put too much emphasis on perfection in what we expect of ourselves and of others?