GATTACA and genetic determinism
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Date
2018-08-16
Authors
Muller, Amanda
Dalzotto, Adam
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Rights
Crown Copyright © 2018 Published by Elsevier Ltd. This
manuscript version is made available under the CC-BYNC-
ND 4.0 license:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Rights Holder
Crown Copyright © 2018 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Abstract
Gattaca (1997) is a film that depicts a world in “the not-so-distant future” where naturally conceived humans are labelled as in-valids or de-gene-erates. In-valids form the lower class of society, while genetically selected embryos are called valids and form the elite. Genetic selection of embryos can be easily achieved by visiting “your local geneticist”. The valid and in-valid labels call to mind Heidegger's authentic and inauthentic self. In-valids are denied access to high-status positions, education, and other social institutions, and are assigned menial jobs and low-status work. Valids form the elite and hold higher status jobs, although their participation is determined according to their level of genetic perfection. The name of the movie comprises the initial letters of the four nucleobases of DNA: Guanine, Adenine, Thymine, and Cytosine.
Description
Crown Copyright © 2018 Published by Elsevier Ltd. This
manuscript version is made available under the CC-BYNC-
ND 4.0 license:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
This author accepted manuscript is made available following 12 month embargo from date of publication (August 2018) in accordance with the publisher’s archiving policy
Keywords
genetic determinism
Citation
Müller, A., & Dalzotto, A. (2018). GATTACA and genetic determinism. Nurse Education Today, 70, 94–95.