Frankenstein Vs. Frankenfoods

Frankenstein vs. Frankenfoods

In modern day society scientific advancement is reaching all new levels. Since the scientific revolution people have thrived on making new innovations that make our day to day life easier, more productive, healthier, and most importantly efficient. One such scientific advancement is genetically modified foods otherwise known as Frankenfoods. For example, tomatoes that are grown for the purpose of consumption are now injected with various steroids and have their genomes altered in order to make the larger, tastier, and ‘better’ alternative for the consumer. This topic directly relates into the story of Frankenstein. In this book Vincent Frankenstein is faced with numerous dilemmas related to his creation of a monster out of used human parts. At one point in the novel Frankenstein has to contemplate whether or not he should create a mate for the monster. This question raises both moral and ethical questions because at what point does scientific advancement cross the line over into ones person self fulfillment and conquest? Scientific ambition whether it is genetically modified foods, creating a monster, or any other scientific endeavors must take this question into consideration before coming to fruition.

One of the tragedies for Victor Frankenstein is the refusal of other characters in the novel to recognize the monster as a full human being. This problem leads the monster to become anti-social and becomes a darker, more evil figure. In order to fulfill the monsters desires for a relationship or contact with other beings, the monster requests that Frankenstein create another monster to become his mate. Trying to scare Frankenstein for not creating his mate, the monster resorted to threats. The first monster threatened Frankenstein and even his family. If Frankenstein does create a companion for his first creation, he may be endangering others. If there is another monster, there will be twice the power and possibly twice the evil, which could hurt or kill his family. When and if Frankenstein commits the moral sin of creating another monster, he may be rid of both monsters forever. The monster promises Frankenstein that upon completion of his mate he will leave and never return. There is a chance that the monsters will not keep their promise and stay in Europe, evoking fear into the townsfolk. Frankenstein will not sacrifice his morality because of persuasion from a monster. Even though faced with this tough decision, Frankenstein chooses to destroy the monster for the good of the world. This moral dilemma directly relates to modern scientific issues and controversies. One example is that of genetically modified foods that are at the forefront of scientific advancement at the present day.

With an ever-growing population and the problems of world hunger, there has been a high demand for an increased food supply and a better food supply. Technology has been called upon to meet this challenge. The advent of genetically engineered foods, sometimes called transgenic crops or genetically modified foods is not a new concept, but the controversy over it is. Genetically modified foods are foodstuffs produced from genetically modified organisms that have had their genome altered through genetic engineering. No major health hazards have come to light since genetically modified food was introduced 13 years ago. Some Christians object in principle to genetically modified food, as an unacceptable intervention in God's creation violating barriers in the natural world. Others see the potential for using God's gift of our technical skills, but with some hesitation, on matters of food safety and environmental risk. Christians believe that all of God's creatures are much more than their genes. To change one or two genes wouldn't make an organism less than itself, unless the change itself caused a major disruption. Claims are often made for the potential of genetically modified food to feed the world. If genes could be manipulated to enable staple crops to grow in marginal conditions, it might make a big difference too many countries which struggle to feed themselves.

Conducting medical research on humans is a tricky business. It is not the same thing as providing risky but proven medical treatments, which is done for patients. Medical experimentation is done to test subjects in order to further science. The experimenters may hope to help the subjects, but since the procedures are, by definition, not fully tested, they also have potential to cause great suffering and harm. Another form of controversial research testing is animal testing. There are many pros to animal testing. Sometimes it will put an animal through lots of pain, but it can save human lives. Scientists will inject a lab animal with a virus like AIDS or cancer, then try to cure them and if it works, they will have developed