Frankenstein Today: The Postgenomic Prometheus As the power of
gene technology reaches human DNA, we fear that the subjects of
genetic engineering might somehow become monstrous, something
other than human. The fear of creating a monster received
perhaps its most famous expression in Mary Shelleys
Frankenstein. The questions Shelley raises return with greater
urgency now that the Human Genome Project and our growing
pharmacological toolkit give scientists unprecedented powers.
Yet the questions may also lead us to expand our view of what is
human. Frankenstein: Or, the Modern Prometheus, by Mary Shelley
(1818) For historical background, see the National Library of
Medicines online exhibition Frankenstein: Penetrating the
Secrets of Nature at
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/frankenstein/index.html. 2.
What makes Frankensteins creation monstrous? Some modern critics
argue that the monsters evil was not inherent but was the
product of Frankensteins rejection of him. Do you agree? How do
Frankensteins reasons f