cats and Frankenstein

A genetically-modified, hypoallergenic kitten.

Love cats but are allergic to them? No longer an issue! Companies such as Allerca and Felix Pets have been developing hypoallergenic cats, or cats that are less likely to cause an allergic reaction to humans. This is accomplished by cellular modification, in which scientists remove or suppress the gene that creates Fel d 1, the allergen protein found in cat saliva. By manipulating this cell, scientists then implant the new gene into a surrogate mother, who would then give birth to an allergen-free kitten.

So what do hypoallergenic cats and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein have in common? Genetic engineering. 

Genetic engineering is highly controversial and widely debated around the world. Involving the direct manipulation of genes, the techniques arise issues on ethic and moral grounds. With hypoallergenic kittens, the controversy is not so extreme; the purpose of the modification is understandable, and as the kitten is transformed while it's still a single cell, the harm is minimum. 

A glow-in-the-dark cat for AIDS research.

Another example could be the breeding of glow-in-the-dark kittens. When I first read about glowing cats, I was outraged: for what purpose would one have to make a cat glow? However, with further research, it was revealed to me that the "glowing" gene implanted in the kittens was an effective resister of feline immunodeficiency virus, or FIV, which causes AIDS in cats. This gene, it was researched, could also be passed on through generations. Although the cats aren't 100% AIDS-proof, the results of these experiments have been promising

In Frankenstein, the purpose of Frankenstein's experimentation with cellular modification are questionable. While Victor Frankenstein evoked numerous displays of seeking glory -- "...but what glory would attend the discovery, if I could banish disease from the human frame and render man invulnerable to any but a violent death!" (Shelley 22) -- he also implied a desire to advance sciences for the future -- "...yet, when I considered the improvement which every day takes place in science and mechanics, I was encouraged to hope my present attempts would at least lay the foundations of future success" (Shelley 32). 

In my opinion, Frankenstein had begun his experiment with primarily selfish motivations. He seemed to have realized his folly after the creation of the monster: "A human being in perfection ought always to preserve a calm and peaceful mind, and never to allow passion or a transitory desire to disturb his [tranquility]" (Shelley 34). Perhaps he had regretted his greed for fame, or maybe he felt guilty for being consumed in his work; nevertheless, his regret was short-lived. 

When Frankenstein was working on his creation's female counterpart, he began to think of the potential consequences following her awakening. Initially, it seemed to me that he was worried for the future of mankind should he follow through with his experiment: "Had I a right, for my own benefit, to inflict this curse upon everlasting generations?" (Shelley 121). However, immediately after this, he voiced another fear that "future ages might curse [him] as their pest," a fear that seems more oriented towards his own selfishness. The worry about his creation and the female wreaking havoc is understandable; the monster had committed murder, and maybe with a new friend, these acts would increase. On the other hand, he seemed more concerned with his namesake rather than the safety of the people. Afraid of how his name would forever be associated to the potential havoc, Frankenstein decided to end his experiment.

With the manipulation of genes within the aforementioned kittens, the purposes were strictly scientific. In Frankenstein's case, however, his goals seemed to be a combination of both scientific advancement and achieving fame. Scientific experiments, I hope, are conducted for the betterment of life. If genetic engineering were to be conducted, it should be done with good intentions rather than achieving glory.