Cracking Your Genetic Code

 The fact that a majority of the traits you possess, and your reason for being alive and human, is dictated by billions of strands of As, Cs, Ts, and Gs is near unbelievable. The genetic miracle that is complex life rests entirely on the code within our unique genomes, and modern society has made many improvements in uncovering the secrets that lay within our DNA.

Nova: Cracking Your Genetic Code is a 2012 documentary about the genetic revolution; that recent technology has allowed us to analyze and uncover a large amount of our personal genetic code. This has allowed people to actively prevent conditions that would have occurred and prepare for their symptoms, but has also given people unavoidable death sentences. This new technology raises questions as to the morals and ethics of how these innovations may be used in the future, and what our society will look like in terms of using genetics as a tool in the near future.

This documentary was fascinating. I learned that lifelong afflictions can often be due to just one or two base changes within DNA, which is shocking since our DNA is composed of billions of nucleotides. I was also surprised to learn that, at the time of filming, geneticists could take months too look through one person’s entire genetic code. I was also intrigued by the questions that this film raised. The fact that employers, those seeking romantic partners, and insurance companies could possibly start to discriminate on the basis of genetics if this information becomes more public is a concern that would drastically impact the way of life for every person. The potential for this to occur, and what impacts this may have, is complex and a vital question to be considered.

I think there will be drastic changes within society as we are further able to utilize our new understanding of genetics. Currently, we are able to better pre-mediate genetic conditions and allow people afflicted a better chance at a longer and more comfortable life. We are also able to find the root mutated causes of many syndromes and treat them better though our understanding. In the future, there may be some risks to these new innovations. The genetic companies that we currently have hold parts of our identity with them, and there could be safety and privacy risks if we start using DNA as a form of identification (if social security numbers, etc., become obsolete). I also think the rise of the idea of “designer babies” in any way is an odd concept that will impact how the future views having children, and the idea of babies as a commodity that should be changed and adjusted in the womb. Although understanding and analyzing our genetic code has a variety of benefits, I think there is also a large potential for negative effects that we need to be aware of as we head into the near future.

I would definitely recommend this documentary. Although this film may not be entirely up to date with current scientific improvements, as this was recorded more than 10 years ago, the information given is a great overview and introduction to the science of genetics and the moral questions raised. I think this is an important documentary to watch because the topics are increasingly relevant as we head towards a future with greater and greater use of genetics and genetic analysis. We need to be aware of the costs and benefits to this progression, and should actively discuss how to best ethically consider the opportunities that our modern understanding of genetics can provide us with.

I am still curious after watching this documentary…. What innovations within the field of genetics are currently being worked on? What changes have been made between the filming of this documentary and now? How will the rise of AI influence genetics and the analysis of our genetic code (as well as safety and privacy concerns with genetic data)?

I am interested to see how this all plays out in the future.