Genetic Manipulation: The New Frankenstein Monster in Cinema
How modern genetic engineering has become the contemporary equivalent of Mary Shelley's cautionary tale
Introduction: The Modern Creation Myth
In 1818, Mary Shelley gave life to Victor Frankenstein and his creature, a timeless allegory about the dangers of playing God. Two centuries later, humanity possesses its own version of that creative power: genetic manipulation. Just as Dr. Frankenstein assembled body parts to give life, modern scientists recombine DNA to rewrite the code of life. This scientific advance, with its profound ethical and social implications, has become a recurring theme in contemporary cinema, which explores through fiction the fears and hopes awakened by this revolutionary technology.
Gene editing, particularly CRISPR-Cas9 technology, has burst onto the scientific landscape with the force of a tsunami, offering unprecedented control over biological processes at the molecular level 1 . This tool, often described as "molecular scissors," allows scientists to delete, insert, or replace DNA with a precision and ease that was unthinkable just a decade ago 2 .
Cinema has not been oblivious to this revolution, presenting narratives that oscillate between the promise of eradicating hereditary diseases and the dystopian nightmare of designer babies and genetic inequalities.
The Science Behind the Fiction: Understanding Genetic Manipulation
What is Genetic Manipulation?
Genetic engineering or manipulation consists of a series of techniques that allow the programmed transfer of genes between different organisms 5 . It is an artificial assembly of DNA molecules for the purpose of isolating genes or DNA fragments, cloning them, and introducing them into another genome so that they are expressed. Essentially, it is like rewriting the instruction book of a living being, modifying the characteristics it will inherit and develop.
Traditional vs. Modern Methods
The fundamental process differs significantly from traditional selective breeding. While selective breeding involves selecting plants or animals with desired traits and crossing them over generations (with the risk of also inheriting unwanted characteristics), genetic engineering allows scientists to select the specific gene to implant, avoiding introducing genes with unwanted traits 4 .
The Evolution of Genetic Tools
Zinc Finger Nuclease Technology (ZFN)
Developed in the 1990s, it was the first method that allowed complete cutting of an original DNA sequence or deleting and inserting a new sequence 2 .
Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nuclease (TALEN)
Similar to ZFN technology, it could delete specific DNA sequences or cut and paste new sequences 2 .
CRISPR-Cas9
Discovered around 2013, this technology revolutionized the field for being "more flexible, more precise and easier to use than other technologies" according to Rosario Isasi, an expert in comparative law and genomics ethics 2 .
The Modern Scientist's Toolkit
| Technology | Year of Development | Mechanism of Action | Main Advantages | Main Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZFN | 1990s | Zinc finger proteins that cut DNA | First precise editing technology | Complex to design, expensive |
| TALEN | Post-2000 | Modified proteins that cut specific sequences | Greater specificity than ZFN | Complex design, time-consuming |
| CRISPR-Cas9 | 2013 | Adapted bacterial immune system | Flexible, precise, economical, easy to use | Possible off-target cuts |
The Experiment That Shook the World: The Case of the Chinese Twins
The Controversial Procedure
In 2018, Chinese scientist He Jiankui conducted one of the most controversial experiments in the history of modern genetics: he claimed to have modified human embryos that resulted in the birth of twin girls resistant to HIV 2 6 .
"This is certainly not an authorized procedure and undermines trust in the scientific enterprise," said Ken Goodman, founder and director of the Institute for Bioethics and Health Policy at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine 2 .
Procedure Steps:
- Embryo Collection: Embryos created through IVF from parents where the male was HIV positive.
- CRISPR-Cas9 Application: Used to disable the CCR5 gene, which codes for a protein that HIV uses to enter human cells.
- Implantation and Gestation: The edited embryos were implanted in the mother and carried to term, resulting in the birth of twins Lulu and Nana.
Applications and Realities: From Laboratory to Screen
Tangible Benefits in Medicine and Agriculture
Unlike often apocalyptic cinematic representations, the real applications of genetic manipulation are already showing significant benefits:
| Field | Applications | Benefits | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicine | Therapy for sickle cell anemia | Cure of hereditary diseases | Success in cases like Victoria Gray 6 |
| Cancer research | Study of tumor mechanisms | Used in research with animal models 2 | |
| Agriculture | Resistant crops | Less use of pesticides and water | GM cotton, corn and soybeans widely cultivated 4 |
| Improved foods | Higher nutritional value and shelf life | Potatoes that produce fewer carcinogens when fried 4 | |
| Environment | Bioremediation | Degradation of pollutants | Development of microorganisms to clean environments 1 |
The Ethical Dilemma: We Can, But Should We?
"The fact that we can do it does not mean that we should do it" - Rosario Isasi 2
Somatic Cells
Modify genes in non-reproductive cells, so changes are not inherited by offspring. These applications are widely accepted for treating diseases.
Germline
Involves modifying genes in eggs, sperm or early embryos, meaning changes will be inherited by all future generations. This modality is currently prohibited in most countries 2 .
"If we do an experiment with human beings, we have to obtain the person's consent. This did not happen [with the Chinese twins] nor, technically, with the generations that will inherit this change. It is not possible to obtain consent from people who do not yet exist" - Ken Goodman 2
Genetic Manipulation in Cinema: Mirror of Contemporary Anxieties
Cinema has embraced genetic manipulation as a powerful narrative to explore our deepest anxieties about identity, power, and the future of humanity. Films on this topic usually fall into several categories:
Genetic Dystopias
Films like "Gattaca" present worlds where genetic engineering has created societies stratified between genetically "enhanced" and "natural," reflecting real concerns about commercial eugenics mentioned in scientific literature 1 .
Modified Creatures
From recreated dinosaurs in "Jurassic Park" to altered predators, cinema explores the risks of modifying organisms without fully understanding the consequences. These stories reflect genuine scientific concerns about the unexpected effects of introducing modified organisms into ecosystems 4 .
Identity and Authenticity
Many films examine the impact of genetic modification on individual identity, questioning what makes us human when our genetic code can be altered at will. These narratives resonate with the ethical debate about the difference between using technology to cure diseases versus enhancing human capabilities 2 .
The Future of Genetic Manipulation: Between Promise and Precaution
As technology advances, the global community faces the challenge of establishing effective regulations. As the organizing committee of the "Third International Summit on Human Genome Editing" stated: "Governance frameworks and ethical principles for the responsible use of heritable human genome editing do not exist" 6 . Developing these frameworks requires a collective effort that transcends national borders.
"They are more affordable, so it has opened the field of action" of genome manipulation, warns Isasi 2 . This democratization, while positive for research, also increases the risk of irresponsible uses outside established scientific institutions.
International Positions on Genetic Editing
| Organization/Event | Position on Germline Editing | Main Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| Third International Summit on Human Genome Editing | "Remains unacceptable" 6 | Establish global governance frameworks |
| American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) | Do not perform manipulations resulting in pregnancy 2 | Support only in vitro research with supervision |
| World Health Organization | - | Establish central research registry 2 |
Conclusion: Frankenstein's Lesson Revisited
The Frankenstein monster, in its essence, was not a warning against scientific knowledge, but against irresponsibility in its application. Two centuries later, this lesson resonates with renewed force in the age of genetic manipulation. CRISPR technology and its derivatives give us a power that Mary Shelley could hardly have imagined, but the fundamental question remains the same: how to balance the pursuit of scientific progress with ethical responsibility?
"We are responsible for the kind of society we want to leave to future generations" - Isasi 2 . In this shared responsibility lies the ultimate challenge of navigating between scientific promise and ethical integrity, between what we technically can do and what we morally should do.
Cinema, as a mirror of the collective psyche, will continue to explore these issues, giving visual form to our fears and hopes. Meanwhile, in real-world laboratories, scientists and ethicists work to ensure that, unlike Victor Frankenstein, humanity does not run away from its creation, but guides its development with wisdom, caution, and a deep respect for life in all its diversity.