Where No Genome Has Gone Before: Star Trek and Genetic Medicine at the Advent of Gene Therapy

Abstract

The development and adoption of gene therapy as a new therapeutic modality represents a fundamentally new approach to treating diseases by directly modifying human genetic material. No longer the speculations of visionary scientists and science fiction authors, gene therapy makes the genetic engineering of humans a reality in the early 21st century. This MLA thesis identifies and describe the ways that the science fiction franchise Star Trek has portrayed the speculative potential of genetic medicine within the context of emerging real-world applications of gene therapies. This analysis illustrates how Star Trek episodes from 1966 through 2005 have anticipated and predicted the potential consequences of gene therapy and provides a framework for understanding and navigating the social and cultural challenges of genetic engineering technologies.