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The application of [human genetics research] [advancements in biotechnology on human beings] have brought worries of genoism and discrimination based on one’s genetic purity, onto society. (Kakmi, 2004). In anticipatiing dreaded future biological technologies, authors and filmmakers have used their talents to reflect upon genetic science. Through the societies of Gattaca and Brave New World, Andrew Niccol and Aldous Huxley respectively portrayed evolution in eugenics as the primary technological advance capable of transforming humanity. Both populaces residing in Brave New World and Gattaca face institutionalized discrimination in daily life, however, they differ on whether the individual can overcome inferiority in the new system. Both dystopian works examine the use of science in creating social inequality, the protagonist’s awareness of his inferiority, and the individual’s role in a eugenic future.

The dystopian texts criticized the role of genetic tools in the predestination of fates. The people of these worlds (what worlds???) were given their fates before their birth. Andrew Niccol portrayed Gattaca as a society where babies could be genetically modified by offering money to geneticists. The power to alter genes lied with scientists who could eliminate diseases, human disabilities, and shortcomings, depending the amount of money they are paid (Niccol, 1997). Meanwhile, the process invented and implemented to produce babies in Brave New World was called Bokanovsky’s Process (Huxley, year??, p.3). As a “modern fertilizing process” (Huxley, p.3), it was able to produce babies at an alarming speed referred to “assembly-line bioengineering of human beings”. (Astrachan, 1998, p.??). While brave new worlders were not born from a mother’s womb, residents of Gattaca retained the tradition of natural birth. Both approaches to human birth contributed to the caste system. The World Controllers in Brave New World ensured certain numbers of the five castes that were decanted or born from bottles. Each caste was created and further split into Plus and Minus members through purposely stunting growth by pouring doses of alcohol into the bottle of fetuses.

Due to the preselection of genes and genetic testing as the form of identification, two social classes existed in Gattaca as opposed to five castes in Brave New World. These classes are Valids and Invalids. In Gattaca, only those who were able to afford genetic alteration were likely to have genetically modified babies known as Valids. The poor parents who could not afford to consult a geneticist to select favourable traits were unable to guarantee their future children optimum success (Darnovsky, 2008). As the local geneticist cautioned, being born an Invalid was not “the best possible start” to life (Niccol, 1997, p.??). The wealthy was, however, guaranteed access to the new technology. In addition to the economic divide, the use of genes as criteria for identifying people was introduced as a possible type of discrimination. Individuals who had not been genetically enhanced and were referred to as Invalids encountered severe discrimination (Kirby, 2000). As shown in the film, the job interviews at Gattaca used urine tests to identify genetically superior humans (Niccol, 1997). Similarly, an individual’s capabilities were based solely on genetics in Brave New World. Comparable to Alphas which are the ruling elite in Brave New World were Valids in Gattaca who were born entitled to high social status. Invalids, on the other hand, worked cleaning jobs equivalent to Epsilons who worked menial jobs in factories. Due to their births, lower classes were subject to inequalities in the employment section which in turn altered their quality of life (Huxley, xx).

The presence of the caste system in both societies is a clear indication that "discrimination [could be] down to a science” (Niccol, 1997, p.???). In Gattaca, while wealth and the parents’ values appeared to determine whether science would impact their children’s fate, genetic determinism affected children who had and had not genetically altered. Due to the widespread belief in genetic determinism in Gattaca, discrimination was built into the structure of society similar to the strong systemic discrimination existent in Brave New World (Kakmi, 2004). Aldous Huxley, author of Brave New World, distrusted the idea of a world which the elite was planned for mankind as a whole (Bloom, p.66). Thus, the World Controllers balances the production of intellectually superior Alphas and purposely brain-damaged Gammas, Deltas, Epsilons. Results of this process affected the type of occupation accessible to brave new worlders similar to how genetic determinism impacted on Gattaca’s residents. While Valids might opt to defy their genetic profile, Invalids' lacked of genetic purity haunts them by limiting opportunities. This not only created an economic divide in society, but also operated on the false myth. Thus, brave new worlders believed that genetic engineering could pre-determine an individual's behaviour and ability to perform a job (Deane-Drummond, 2004; Kirby, 2000).

Gattaca’s protagonist, Vincent Freeman, and Brave New World’s protagonist, Bernard Marx, both feel acutely inferiority in the new system. The caste system causes the two protagonists to feel inferior as their genetic composition identifies them as substandard specimens. Thus, they suffer under the “burden of imperfection” (Niccol, 1997, p.???). Despite Bernard Marx’s status as an Alpha Plus, he is an outcast because he is shorter in stature than the average of his caste (Huxley, p.55). Huxley wrote a description of his physical inadequacy: “he stood eight centimetres short of the standard Alpha height” and that was “hardly better than that of the average Gamma [a person two castes lower]” (Huxley, p.272). This quality is generally shared by the lower castes such as Gamma, Deltas, and Epsilons. These castes are “conditioned to associate corporeal mass with social superiority” meaning Bernard’s status in society is challenged as “a faint hypnopaedic prejudice in favour of size was universal” (Huxley, p.55). This discriminatory treatment led Bernard to develop an inferiority complex (Pearce, 2008). The continuous mockery made him feel inferior and he reacted in a manner which only “intensified the contempt and hostility aroused by his physical defects” (Huxley, p.55).

Vincent’s experience as an outsider differed from …. In the film, his narration described how he was brought up to believe he was sub-par, “from an early age I [he] came to think of myself [himself] as others thought of me [him] - chronically ill” (Niccol, 1997, p.??). Ordinarily, he would be playing with other children in kindergarden. However, at the day care center, he was placed in a room with sleeping mats where children with obvious disabilities were. He was not given an opportunity to play outside in the jungle-gym or ride a bicycle like ‘healthy’ children were given (Niccol, 1997). The adults in Vincent’s life treat him as though he is abnormal and differs greatly from the way genetically engineered children as his brother, Anton, is treated. The disparity is noticeable, even to the young Vincent. As he grew up, Vincent would be referred to by derogatory names such as "faith births”, "defectives," or the officially sanctioned term, "in-valids” (Darnovsky, 2008, p.??). Later, he would learn his unenhanced status could only get him a job as a janitor at Gattaca. His life as an Invalid was doomed to routine discrimination through the drug test at interviews (Kirby, 2000).

As he pressed his face against a window looking up at the genetically-enhanced individuals who worked inside (Niccol, 1997), glass barriers were seen. The glass barriers symbolize the glass ceiling effect where people who should legally be able to work are unable to due to discriminatory practices (Kakmi, 2004). Vincent comments, despite his mental preparation for the position, "the best test score in the world wasn’t going to matter unless I had the blood test to go with it” (Niccol, 1997, p.??). Meanwhile, Bernard working as a psychologist uncovers the inner workings of Brave New World. His innate curiosity and sense of reasoning help him gain an awareness about sleep-teaching (Pearce, 2008). This revelation in addition to his physical attributes is the reason for his increased interest in fighting social inequalities resulting from the structure of his society (Pearce, 2008). Bernard resembles Vincent in that he dislikes the society in which he lives once he experiences discrimination. Both Vincent and Bernard voice the premonitions of its writer. The precautions subtly shown in these dystopian works concern the potential psychological effects on children in a world of genetic modification which has the tendency towards the loss of human integrity (Deane-Drummond, 2004).

After viewing Gattaca, the present will seem to have been replaced with a futuristic society who prefer to “hand pick” offspring rather than leaving it up to chance or God in Gattaca (Kakmi, 2000, p.??). Gattaca’s citizens believe that human genetic technologies can improve one’s potential (Kirby, 2000). However, Vincent Freeman would challenge this belief as he, an Invalid who had not been genetically enhanced, succeeded. More importantly, his example demonstrated to viewers that human beings are more than biological products. Vincent would transcend the predestined fate medical experts predicted for him based on the lack of genetic enhancement.

The myth remains for residents of Gattaca who opt for genetic manipulation are improving the future of their children (Deane-Drummond, 2004). They must have forgotten that humanity is defined by more than genes (Deane-Drummond, 2004), but Vincent serves as a reminder that “there is no gene for the human spirit” (Niccol, 1997, p.??). The tag line of Gattaca indicates that the individual’s human qualities cannot be engineered as only one’s motivation to confront challenges, but can develop the individual spirit. Typically, Invalids have their destiny set for them. However, Vincent is able to evade discrimination due to his refusal to “play the hand he was dealt with” (Niccol, 1997, p.??). By becoming a ‘borrowed ladder’ (Niccol, 1997, p.??), Vincent subjected himself to unknown punishment. Despite being unafraid to pursue his life-long dream, he did start to weep in one scene when he felt overwhelmed by his task after waking up from a night of detectives chasing him (Niccol, 1997). The enormity of his task to conceal his Invalid status becomes tiresome for Vincent. In nearly all of the scenes, Vincent is seen dedicating time to getting rid of any trace of himself while replacing it with someone else’s body matter. Nonetheless, Vincent keeps on trying and acts calmly through to the end when he knows he has no chance but gives his urine without an already prepared urine sample. Thus, Vincent is not enslaved to his natural birth and genetic destiny. In addition, Vincent’s trip out of Gattaca is a prime example that genetics cannot predetermine destiny as it is just probable, and thus, it is possible to fight it.

The spirit Vincent develops through the need to overcome his genetic heritage results in his triumph over his brother, Anton, and other Valids who have a cleaner profile than him. Meanwhile, Brave New World’s plot centers on Bernard Marx whose thinking is reflective of human nature. Initially, he appears to hate societal norms, but once people pay attention to him, he conforms. While Vincent frees himself from his genetics, Bernard cannot adjust to life as a perceived “Gamma”. In his weakness and confusion, Bernard suggests a tragic Everyman figure as he is unable to make a moral choice (Bloom, p.23) when attempting to control his own destiny. While Vincent prepares for his future by studying, Bernard takes soma to overcome what he cannot achieve by will (Bloom, p.19).

For both Vincent and Bernard, the purpose of life is not the maintenance of well-being, but “some intensification and refining of consciousness, some enlargement of knowledge” (Bloom, 29). However, the societies of Gattaca and Brave New World promote social order and decrease the value of individual freedom. This idea is best described in this hypnopaedic phrase, “when the individual feels, the community reels” (Huxley, p.89). Bernard’s visit to the Savage Reservation to look for some clue to a more meaningful existence is unsuccessful as he “fails to find happiness” (Bloom, p.24). When Bernard brings John the Savage to the World State from the Savage Reservation, John is troubled by it. Eventually John kills himself and in doing so, represents the lack of will to survive in Brave New World. Although none of Brave New World’s characters provides hope for humankind, Vincent’s success at Gattaca shows how individuals can be more than what genetic make-up predicts (Kirby, 2000). Despite his natural birth, Vincent is a superior human being, able to excel physically and socially. Vincent differentiates himself from Bernard as he attains his goals. As a human being, Vincent’s definition of quality is his abundance of inner strength. In this sense, Vincent also differs from John the Savage who eventually commits suicide. Vincent possesses the determination to live.

Genetic discoveries’ social consequences in societies of Gattaca and Brave New World are institutionalized discrimination. However, while the individual possessed motivation to confront the challenges of genetic determinism in Gattaca, characters in Brave New World lacked the will to achieve goals. Both states encourage its audience to reject technological applications as the message could be interpreted as beware how these scientific processes will interfere with human qualities. As progress in biotechnology is sketched, inequalities on the individual within the society are occurring and being accepted. The attempts at applying human genetic technologies create new kinds of social inequalities in Gattaca and Brave New World that only the inner transformation of self can transcend. Niccol and Huxley in their dystopian works have stroke images about the world to come as breakthroughs in biotechnology are paving the way for the mass alternation of the human species (Deane-Drummond, 2004). If humanity is unable to balance among human needs, social progresses, and control technology, dilemmas complicating society as a whole will ensue (Bloom, 22). The question remains how humankind will be affected by eugenics. It appears that the wait for a post-human society will be shorter than even Huxley and Niccol anticipated.