Gattaca is a truly excellent film set in an unspecified future where genetically superior human beings have all the advantages.
While this kind of liberal eugenics has thankfully not come to pass, it is interesting how changes in technology and the legalising of abortion across the Western world is having an affect on our society.
In the highly entertaining book Freakonomics, the authors discussed what caused the crime rates across the US to decline in the 1990s when it was predicted they would rise and rise. Conventional wisdom suggested this was due to a combination of the growth in the economy and tougher sentences for criminals/ more police.
In fact, the authors suggested it was due to the seminal Roe vs Wade case of 1973 which resulted in the legalising of abortion. Many poor, uneducated, potential single mums instead aborted their children. So, 20 years later, these kids weren't around to commit crimes.
The BBC recently published a piece on the increase in Down Syndrome births in the United Kingdom. They stated that while there was a large increase in Down Syndrome pregnancies (due to the rising age of women conceiving), there was only a 1% increase in Down Syndrome births.
"An increase in the number of subsequent abortions and more antenatal diagnoses means slightly fewer children are being born with Down's syndrome.
Campaigners say better education about the condition will reduce abortions.
The number of Down's syndrome pregnancies rose from 1,075 diagnoses in 1990 to 1,843 by 2008 in England and Wales.
Despite the higher number of Down's pregnancies, the number of Down's syndrome babies has fallen by 1%, from 752 to 743. "
The new technology available has meant that antenatal diagnoses are being used to prevent Down Syndrome babies ever being born.
It's not all bad news however. Apparently, evolution is making women become hotter, while men are staying the same. I think all us menfold can appreciate that!
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