February 8, 2000

10:42 AM

And you thought Gattaca was just a fantasy futuristic movie? The age of genetic discrimination is upon us already.
posted by mathowie (4 comments total)

That movie really is quite disturbing.
Instead of a master race of blond haired blue eyed "Aryans" you have genetically enhanced humans.

Scary.
posted by tomcosgrave at 12:40 PM on February 8, 2000

The obvious benefits of such legislation would be legal protection for those with muscular dystrophy or other conditions who otherwise could perform brilliantly on the job. What would be interesting is if such genetic non-descrimination would extend to other things that in the future could be found to have genetic causes, and that normally have not received such protection. Things like a propensity for violence (has anyone read A Philosophical Investigation?) or sexual orientation.
posted by jason at 1:02 PM on February 8, 2000

...would extend to other things that in the future could be found to have genetic causes...

Like race? I'm gonna get a copy of that executive order and attach it to my census form, I think.
posted by mikewas at 4:09 PM on February 8, 2000

I can imagine a world where being naturally born is as bad or worse than being in-bred is today. Kids will be made fun of at school for being genetically flawed; first we'll have segregation on the playground, then--in the workplace and beyond.

What if our calculations of what is genetically "good" and "bad" are wrong? They can only be correct from one frame of reference at a time and therefore will be incorrect from all other perspectives. What if, when we hack out a gene common in potential serial killers, we loose at the same time the potential for something "good"?

What's going to stop us from learning the hard way?
posted by rodric_gagnon at 1:02 AM on February 9, 2000