The document introduces the film Gattaca and discusses some of its key themes around genetics and society. It provides background on Einstein and his concerns about ethics in science. It analyzes some of the characters' names in relation to DNA base pairs. It also defines some basic genetic terms like genes, DNA, chromosomes, and nucleotides to help discuss the complex issues raised by the film around genetic manipulation.

1. Introducing Gattaca A few thoughts from Einstein

2. Why Einstein? Einstein was one of the greatest scientists and thinkers in recent history. He worked in America on the Atomic bomb during the 50’s and 60’s- at an exciting time for science He was very concerned about ethical issues in science He was also a refugee from the Nazi regime, and the victim of discrimination himself. He worked on the Atomic bomb, and regretted it.

3. The Theme Ethics and science Fear of technology Fear of Human Nature The unethical use of science As technology (science) progresses, human nature remains the same.

5. What are the big problems of mankind?

6. What are the problems with such power in the hands of mankind?

7. How does society in ‘Gattaca’ abuse their power? When Einstein saw the atomic bomb he had helped to create, he said ‘ the power of the atom has changed everything except our way of thinking…the solution to this problem lies in the heart of man­kind.’

10. What do you think this says about the society he lives in? All that is valuable in human society depends upon the opportunity for development accorded the individual.

12. What do you consider the qualities of humanity to be?

13. How has technology in the world of ‘Gattaca’ removed people from humanity?

14. DO you think this is true in the real world? It is appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity

16. What does it tell you about the society of ‘Gattaca’ that Irene and Anton are so quick to accept their limitations?

17. Do you think there is a conflict between the advanced science and the old prejudices in ‘Gattaca’?Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them.

19. What are the problems of society in ‘Gattaca’?

20. Do we have similar problems?

21. What do you think the director is telling us about our problems?We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.

24. What opposition does he face and why?

25. What is unusual to us about him as a target of prejudice? Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.

27. Who best shows each attitude?

28. What does this say about humanity?There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle.

30. Why is imagination so important to science?

31. What has the society in ‘Gattaca’ lost with their quest for genetic perfection?

32. What warning is the director sending to his audience? The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination. To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle, requires creative imagination and marks real advance in science.

34. What new manners of thinking does Vincent inspire in others?

35. What does this suggest about the ‘real world’?We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if mankind is to survive.

39. The chemical building blocks of genes are made up of individual stretches of nucleotides. You’ll be interested to discover that there are four base nucleotides, known by the letters G A T C. These are sequenced in triplets . Single stretches pair up to create long strands of DNA (dioxyribonucleicacid), twisted and interlocked like