From Wikipedia,
the free encyclopedia.
Genetic engineering is a
popular subject of
fiction, especially
science fiction.
Star Trek
In the
Star Trek universe, genetic
engineering has featured in a
couple of
films, and a number of
television episodes.
The
Breen, the
Dominion,
Species 8472, the
Xindi, and the
Federation use technology with
organic components.
Khan Noonian Singh, who
appeared in
Space Seed and
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,
was a product of genetic
engineering. His physical
structure was modified to make him
stronger and to give him greater
stamina than a regular human. His
mind was also enhanced. However,
the creation of Khan would have
serious consequences because the
superior abilities given to him
created superior ambition. Along
with other enhanced individuals,
they tried to take over the
planet. When they were reawakened
by the
Enterprise, Khan set
himself to taking over the
universe. Later, he became
consumed by grief and rage, and
set himself on the goal of
destroying
Kirk.
Because of the experiences with
genetic engineering, the
Federation had banned it
except to correct genetic
birth defects, but a number of
parents still illegally subjected
their children to genetic
engineering for a variety of
reasons. This often created
brilliant but unstable
individuals. Such children are not
allowed to serve in
Starfleet or practice
medicine.
Star Wars
In the
Star Wars universe, genetic
engineering was also used.
In
Attack of the Clones, the
Kamino cloners who created the
clone army for the
Galactic Republic had used
engineering to enhance their
clones. They modified the genetic
structure to accelerate their
growth rate, make them less
independent, and make them better
suited to combat operations.
Later, the
Yuuzhan Vong are a race who
exclusively use organic
technology and regard
mechanical technology as
heresy. Everything from
starships to communications
devices to weapons are bred and
grown to suit their needs.
Gundam SEED
Genetic modification is also
found in the anime series Gundam
SEED in
coordinators, who were created
from ordinary humans by GM.
Guardians of the Galaxy
In
Marvel Comics, the
31st century adventurers
called the
Guardians of the Galaxy are
genetically engineered residents
of
Mercury,
Jupiter, and
Pluto.
Gattaca
The film
Gattaca dealt with the
idea of genetic engineering and
eugenics as it projected what
class relations would look like in
a future society after a few
generations of the possibility of
genetic engineering.
Olaf Stapledon
Genetic engineering (or
something very like it) features
prominently in
Last and First Men, a
1930 novel by
Olaf Stapledon.
The Moreau Series
The
Moreau Series by
S. Andrew Swann has as the
central premise the proliferation
of humanoid genetically-engineered
animals. The name of the series
(and of the creatures themselves)
comes from the
H. G. Wells novel
The Island of Dr. Moreau.
In the Wells novel, humanoid
animals were created surgically,
though this detail has been
changed to be genetic manipulation
in most film adaptations.
Sonic the Hedgehog Series
The
Ultimate Life Form project,
that produced
Shadow the Hedgehog and
Biolizard was a genetic
engineering project.
Biohazard/Resident Evil Series
The videogame series
Resident Evil involving the
illegal creation of genetically
engineered organisms such as the
Tyrants or Hunters by a world-wide
pharmaceutical company called the
Umbrella Corporation.
