Assisted reproductive technology
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| - | [[Genetic engineering]] is a popular subject of [[fiction]], especially [[science fiction]]. | + | '''Reprogenetics''' is a term referring to the merging of [[reproductive technology|reproductive]] and [[human genetic engineering|genetic]] technologies expected to happen in the near future as techniques like [[germinal choice technology]] become more available and more powerful. The term was coined by [[Lee M. Silver]], a professor of [[molecular biology]] at [[Princeton University]], in his 1997 book ''[[Remaking Eden]]''. |
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| - | ==Discussion== | + | |
| - | During the early twentieth century, science fiction writers began to consider the possible alteration of human beings and other species, either through the natural alteration of genes or by the use of deliberate genetic engineering. Stories of [[mutant (fictional)|mutated humans]] first became common in the 1930s pulp magazines and in the British scientific romances of the time, mutation often providing the justification for stories of [[superhuman|supermen]]. Such narratives provide scientifically rationalized accounts of the transformation of human beings and nature, a theme of timeless fascination, as shown by the many examples in ancient mythology and earlier forms of fiction. | + | |
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| - | While narratives that depict unexpected and uncontrolled mutation (e.g. as a result of radioactivity from nuclear tests) are usually often pessimistic in their attitudes to [[science]] and [[technology]], more optimistic (or at least ambiguous) attitudes are sometimes found in narratives that deal with the deliberate alteration of human or other beings. In many [[comic book]] series, genetic engineering is sometimes used as a "plausible" explanation for [[superhuman]] powers or abilities. | + | |
| - | ==Eugenics== | + | |
| - | Eugenics is a recurrent theme in [[science fiction]], often with both [[dystopian]] and [[utopian]] elements. The two giant contributions in this field are the novel ''[[Brave New World]]'' (1932) by [[Aldous Huxley]], which describes a society where control of human biology by the state results in permanent social stratification. | + | |
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| - | There tends to be a eugenic undercurrent in the [[science fiction]] concept of the [[supersoldier]]. Several depictions of these supersoldiers usually have them bred for combat or genetically selected for attributes that are beneficial to modern or future combat. | + | |
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| - | ===Brave New World=== | + | |
| - | The Brave New World theme also plays a role in the 1997 film ''[[Gattaca]]'', whose plot turns around [[reprogenetics]], [[genetic testing]], and the social consequences of [[liberal eugenics]]. [[Boris Vian]] (under the pseudonym Vernon Sullivan) takes a more light-hearted approach in his novel ''[[Et on tuera tous les affreux]]'' ("[[And we'll kill all the ugly ones]]"). | + | |
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| - | ===Dune=== | + | |
| - | In [[Frank Herbert|Frank Herbert's]] ''[[Dune (novel)|Dune]]'' series of novels, selective breeding programs form a significant theme. Early in the series, the [[Bene Gesserit]] religious order manipulates breeding patterns over many generations in order to create the [[Kwisatz Haderach]]. In ''[[God Emperor of Dune]]'', the emperor [[Leto Atreides II|Leto II]] again manipulates human breeding in order to achieve his own ends. The [[Bene Tleilaxu]] also employed genetic engineering to create human beings with specific genetic attributes. The Dune series ended with causal determinism playing a large role in the development of behavior, but the eugenics theme remained a crucial part of the story. | + | |
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| - | ===Andromeda=== | + | |
| - | In [[Gene Roddenberry]]'s science-fiction television series ''[[Andromeda (TV series)|Andromeda]]'', the entire [[Nietzschean (Andromeda)|Nietzschean]] race is founded on the principals of selective breeding. | + | |
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| - | ===Immortel (Ad Vitam)=== | + | |
| - | In the movie ''[[Immortel (Ad Vitam)]]'', Director/Writer [[Enki Bilal]] titled the name of the evil corrupt organization specializing in genetic manipulation, and some very disturbing genetic "enhancement" eugenics. Eugenics has come to be a powerful organization and uses people and mutants of "lesser" genetic stock as guinea pigs. The movie is based on ''the Nikopol trilogy'' in Heavy Metal comic books. | + | |
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| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | * [[Bioethics]] | ||
| + | * [[Genetic counseling]] | ||
| + | * [[Genetic testing]] | ||
| + | * [[Genism]] | ||
| + | * [[Human enhancement]] | ||
| + | * [[Human genetic engineering]] | ||
| + | * [[Liberal eugenics]] | ||
| + | * [[Preimplantation genetic diagnosis]] | ||
| + | * [[Procreative beneficence]] | ||
| + | * [[Procreative liberty]] | ||
| + | * [[Transhumanism]] | ||
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Revision as of 17:33, 22 July 2010
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Reprogenetics is a term referring to the merging of reproductive and genetic technologies expected to happen in the near future as techniques like germinal choice technology become more available and more powerful. The term was coined by Lee M. Silver, a professor of molecular biology at Princeton University, in his 1997 book Remaking Eden.
See also
- Bioethics
- Genetic counseling
- Genetic testing
- Genism
- Human enhancement
- Human genetic engineering
- Liberal eugenics
- Preimplantation genetic diagnosis
- Procreative beneficence
- Procreative liberty
- Transhumanism
Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Assisted reproductive technology" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.
