Genetics is a controversial area of science, particularly when it comes to manipulation of genes to cure diseases. The recent decision to allow a new technique preventing mitochondrial diseases by creating a “three-parent baby” — a child in which the vast majority of DNA comes from the mother and father and a small amount of DNA comes from a female donor – is one example of the disquiet and unease which advances in science can often bring to us as we battle prejudice, fear and ignorance and work through difficult ethical and theological issues.
When we gaze at a new baby, we often look for resemblances to their parents (my granddaughter has my son’s face shape and blue eyes and her mother’s nose shape and lips) and hope that they will possess the ‘best’ of their combined genes. The 1997 film ‘Gattaca’ shows us an alarming picture of the future, however, painting a vision of a future society driven by eugenics where potential children are conceived through genetic manipulation to ensure they possess the best hereditary traits of their parents and others (the ‘in-valids’ conceived naturally through ‘faith’ births) condemned to a lifetime of menial work.
The main character, Vincent, is an ‘in-valid’ who dreams of being an astronaut, a dream he can only fulfil by subterfuge and deceit (essentially buying the DNA of a ‘valid’ person who has been disabled in an accident.) The film explores the idea of destiny and aspiration, with characters in Gattaca continually battling both with society and with themselves to find their place in the world and who they are destined to be according to their genes.
Michael W. Smith’s song ‘Place In This World‘ also explores this theme of finding our place in the world, but this is a very different thing when we realise God has plans and purposes for us.
‘The wind is moving
But I am standing still;
A life of pages
Waiting to be filled.
A heart that’s hopeful,
A head that’s full of dreams,
But this becoming
Is harder than it seems
Feels like I’m
Looking for a reason
Roamin’ through the night to find
My place in this world,
My place in this world.
Not a lot to lean on;
I need your light to help me find
My place in this world,
My place in this world.’ (‘Place In This World’, Michael W. Smith)
In the film, Vincent ‘exceeds expectations’ because he refuses to let himself be defined by his biological genes and the ‘probabilities’ these imply. He knows how to pursue his goals and become more than others expect him to be. Eph 1:11-12 in the Message version says, ‘It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.‘ We live for His glory, not defined by our socio-economic backgrounds or our genetics or our intelligence or anything other than His love for us and the purposes He is working out in everything and everyone.