CLC-LEPaulo Jorge da Rocha Pereira GATTACA Worksheet “There is no gene for the human spirit” 1. What is the significance of the letters that are highlighted at the beginning credits of the movie? (Hint: they are the same letters in the title of the movie) The four letters that are highlighted are the same which make up the genetic coding: G, T, C and A. 2. What does Jerome (Vincent) place on the comb at his workstation? Vincent places a hair on the comb at his workstation. 3. “They used to say that a child conceived in love has a greater chance of….” What? The word that is missing in the sentence is happiness. 4. Why do you think Vincent’s father decided to name him “Vincent Anton” rather that “Anton”? The father thought his son was not worthy of the name Anton, then put the name of Vincent Anton. 5. What is Jerome’s (Vincent’s) life expectancy? The life expectancy of Vincent is 30.2 years old. 6. List two ways that the society portrayed in the movie routinely ‘reads’ a person’s genetic profile. Some of the ways that the society portrayed uses to read the genetic profile were: - Door handle; - Handshake; - And the saliva from the application form. a. 9. 13. 14. Why? Is difficult to say which is the worst of the two. . I think the worst is the burden of genetic inferiority because in the case of the film it prevents the invalids from having access to everything and equal opportunities. hair and urine for the substance tests and take Jerome blood for the security checks. 11. whereas Jerome Eugene has the “burden of expected perfection” (always perfect). What color is Jerome’s medal? Jerome´s medal is silver. 12. Three of the preparations Vincent had to do every day were. After all.CLC-LE Paulo Jorge da Rocha Pereira 7. what is unusual about the piano player? The unusual feature of the pianist is that he as 6 fingers on each hand. When Jerome (Vincent) and Irene go to a concert. What is the name given to discriminating against people because of their genetic profile? The name given was Genoism. 10. take Jerome nails. 15. What does Irene leave behind at the club where she and Jerome are dancing? Irene leaves a pill box at the club where they were dancing. dispose of all loose skin. Vincent has the “burden of genetic inferiority” (bad genes). Discuss at least THREE preparations Vincent had to do every day to pass as Jerome Morrow at GATTACA. Which burden do you think would be worse? b. Who does the detective leading the murder investigation turn out to be? The detective leading the murder investigation was the brother of Vincent. Who killed the mission director? It was the director of Gattaca who killed the director of the mission. What major surgery did Vincent have to enhance his genetic “imperfections?” The surgery that Vincent has been done was increasing the length of the legs in 5 cm. 8. 20. And we should not use this technology to choose the sex. eye color and other physical characteristics. .). but I think we are a conservative people and I think that this technology would not be very well accepted.CLC-LE Paulo Jorge da Rocha Pereira 16. but would love to be able to circumvent the security as Vincent das done. When Anton asks Vincent. 19. 18. since it says that the child could never apply for Gattaca and is not what they promised. The positives aspects would be to know in advance all the problems that our partner may have (health. 21. I think this technology would not have much success in Portugal. Discuss the positive and negative aspects of having this technology available to prospective mates. If you decided to have a child one day and are given the opportunity to select for special traits. will definitely be possible within the next fifty years. During a scene in GATTACA. trust. “How are you doing this?” how does Vincent answer? Vincent answered “I never saved anything for the swim back”. The technology to do what was done in the movie. this is a very delicate matter and that has to do with our ethics and I think on some issues we should let nature take its course. Why does Eugene think that he got the better end of the deal? Eugene thinks that had the best part of the agreement because he borrowed the body and Vincent lent dream. a person could have a potential romantic partner sequenced. In the film. Do you think that Vincent’s world could even tually happen in Portugal? Why? I think it could happen because the technology would be available to everyone. Some of the traits mentioned in GATTACA included intelligence. and for this reason it would be his big fun. but I think the negative aspects overlap the positive ones. Vincent’s parents visited a doctor who specialized in child conception to select for the best traits for his future brother. Therefore. would you do so? Explain why or why not. etc. They hoped that his brother would have the best possible chances for a successful life. No. Why do you think Lamar’s son was a “big fan” of Vincent? (Hint: Lamar is the doctor who does the urine tests at GATTACA? The doctor suggests in the film that his son is also an invalid. when doing these tests we are telling our partner that we don´t trust him and I think from this point we create a relationship without what I think is their foundation. height and any possibility of inheritable diseases. 17. drugs. health or skin color. When dies. I think that diversity is the best in our society. 24. liver. The reason people are researching these cells are because you can actually grow new tissues and organs to replace damaged ones. People say that this could be cool. I agree you shouldn’t intrude with nature. I think adoption would be the best choice for this couple. What would you say to a friend who believed himself or herself to be solely a product of their DNA and with no true freedom? I would say that we can be a product of our DNA. If you had the opportunity to clone yourself. everyone people knows what to expect from your life. there are thousands of child´s waiting to be adopted. I cannot see any reason that take me to say that hi should be cloned. 23. Wouldn't every parent want to ensure that his or her child was perfect and had the attributes of physical attractiveness. etc. If with the stem cells we can achieve a cure or treatment for some of the biggest killer’s diseases today. vitality and fun? The film depicts a society of "perfect" people. 26. but we still have the ability to decide what to do with our lives and change what we cannot find the right one. lung. Cloning is a process in which you make a genetically identical organism. should they be allowed to clone it? No. The fate of our life is still in our hands. but had the opportunity to clone their baby. 27. This makes life very predictable and monotonous. For instance. it may be possible to grow a new set of lungs for someone dying of lung cancer. others say it is messing with Mother Nature. I didn´t want have a similar person to me.CLC-LE Paulo Jorge da Rocha Pereira 22. All people should have equal opportunities regardless of their physical condition. or skin cell. intelligence and athletic prowess to be able to do whatever he or she wanted in life? If so. I´m against cloning. would you do it and why? I do not cloned myself. What is the cause of death. I think we must continue with the investigation. vitality and fun. Do you think this research should be done? Why or why not? Of course. Stem cell research is another ethical issue. why is the society portrayed in this film so devoid of happiness. since its use was exclusively for the treatment of illness or other incapacity. 25. If a couple had a baby who died and could not have any more babies. Stem cells are cells from an early embryo that can become any type of cell like a heart. that it might develop a disease in the future should not be cause for non-selection of that person. The ethical issue with this type of research is that in order to get this type of stem cells you have to destroy an embryo so it will never grow into a person. . You are an employer and know from genetic testing that the most qualified applicant for the job has a 70% chance of developing Multiple Sclerosis in one year's time. Would you hire this person? Why or why not? Of course I hired this person. I think this will be the cause of the lack of happiness. making him the prime suspect. blood and urine. a crippled athlete. This information would make life ceased to have the charm of being unpredictable and it becomes boring. This is a world where embryos are screened before they are implanted in their mothers to ensure perfect genes and wellbeing. Vincent can work at the aerospace company Gattaca and pass their daily gene tests by using samples of Jerome’s hair. is a genetically imperfect (‘In-valid’) person in a genetically perfect world. He was born with a heart defect dooming him as likely to die aged about 30 and is myopic (shortsighted). Read the summary below inserting the words from the box provided below. Vincent. What would you try to accomplish if you knew at what age you might die? b. race or gender. Will Vincent make it to Titan or be arrested for murder? science urine embryos . but on your health. who has genes that will allow him to achieve his dream of space travel. Vincent’s own DNA is found at the scene in one hair – as an Invalid he had no reason to be there. however. With Jerome’s identity. however. 29. I do not try to change anything or do anything special. a. Things become more complicated. Vincent chose to live his life by the optimistic 1%. we all know that our life has a beginning and an end and we must live it the best we can without being worried about their final. meaning he can work as nothing more than a cleaner.CLC-LE Paulo Jorge da Rocha Pereira 28. so he assumes the identity of Jerome. Each baby’s life expectancy and disease likelihood are tested and determined at birth. Society no longer discriminates on the basis of religion. But Vincent dreams of travelling to Jupiter´s moon Titan. Jupiter’s imperfect health. b. when the Titan mission controller is found murdered shortly before the launch. genes The 1997 film GATTACA is a science fiction film set in the “not-too-distant future”. How would you live your life if you had such information? a.