The Science of Frankenstein

The Science of Frankenstein

By: Amanda Iliadis, Ivanka DMello, and Amina Mahmood

Science in the 19th CenturyIn the 19th Century, science was a new concept to many. It was a time to experiment and come up with new theories. Much of the scientific research we have today derives from the information, research and analysis in the 1800s. Without the discoveries made two hundred years ago, humans would not have been so advanced as they are to date. Frankenstein, having been written in the 19th century, is a perfect representation of how science was such a prominent topic for discussion in that century. Victors experiments in the process of making the Creature were unthinkable, but all were innovations at that time. Victor dared what others would call crazy now, but at that time, it wasnt very strange.

Vivisections

Vivisection is operation on a living animal for experimental medical purposes.During Shelleys time, it was common that people would perform surgery on animals without anesthesia. Many people even said and thought that animals did not actually feel pain.An antivivisection movement started in the late 19th century The movement even included the prevention of all cruelty to animals and later gave rise to the animal rights movement.People were becoming more interested in animal welfare and questioned the morality of and need for vivisection.Even Charles Darwin talked about animal welfare in his book published in 1859.Mary Shelly was a vegetarian and it showed in her novel, Frankenstein.In Chapter 3 Victor says that he "tortured the living animal to animate the lifeless clay and he says this in a regretful way. The Creature even says: "my food is not that of man; I do not destroy the lamb and kid to glut my appetite".

GalvanismGalvanism is the contraction of a muscle that is caused by an electric current

Before Mary Shelleys time, around the 1790s, a physician named Luigi Galvani discovered the electrical basis of nerve impulses when he made frog muscles twitch by jolting them with a spark from an electrostatic machine.

When Frankenstein was published, however, people thought the word galvanism meant the release, through electricity, of mysterious life forces.

Mary Shelley even remembers saying to Lord Byron and Percy Shelley that "perhaps, a corpse would be reanimated; galvanism had given token of such things

Frankenstein endures not only because of its infamous horrors but for the richness of the ideas it asks us to confront human accountability, social alienation, and the nature of life itself. These passages illuminate some of them.

Body SnatchingBody snatching is the secret digging or removal of corpses from graveyards.The common purpose of body snatching, especially in the 19th century, was to sell the corpses for dissection or anatomy lectures in medical schools.During 1832, the 1832 Anatomy Act passed. It talked about laws that had to do with the dissection of corpses and the raw material of new teaching methods in the science of morbid anatomy.Another reason there was a need for corpses was that there was an urgent requirement for trained surgeons.

The Murder Act of 1752 allowed people to use the bodies of executed murderers, but there still wasnt enough supply for the medical schools' needs.In the novel to make his creature, Victor Frankenstein "dabbled among the unhallowed damps of the grave" Victor explains: I collected bones from charnel-houses [. . . .] The dissecting room and the slaughter-house furnished many of my materials (54 55).

Modern Day ScienceIn the late 1900s, the scientific industry began to bloom with new innovations such as Genetic Engineering, Reproductive Technology, and two projects aimed at human genes. These theories became solid and to this day, experiments are being carried out constantly all over the worldchanging the world we once knew. Frankenstein, having no direct relevance to these modern day sciences, still incorporated their general ideas into creating the Creature. The creature himself, was genetically altered

Genetic EngineeringGenetic engineering is the process in which one gene or a set of a few genes is taken out of the DNA of one organism and put into the DNA of another organism. It changes the genetic make up of an organism by using techniques that either remove the heritable material or introduces new DNA. Genetic engineering will usually take place outside of an organisms normal reproductive process. It is often used to introduce new characteristics into an organism.Human genetic engineering is changing an individuals genotype. It is done by choosing the phenotype of a newborn or changing the existing phenotype of a child or adult. Its purpose is to cure genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis and to increase peoples immunity to viruses. It is said that genetic engineering may be used to change physical appearance, metabolism and improve mental faculties such as memory and intelligence.In Mary Shelleys Frankenstein, Victor manipulates the creature to be the way he wants him, much like genetic engineering except without the use of DNA or genes. Victor explains how [The creatures] limbs were in proportion, and [he] had selected his features as beautiful (Shelley 28). Victor makes him eight feet tall, with yellow skin, black hair, white teeth, yellow eyes, and black lips. This is exactly the way Victor wants him as he himself is changing the creatures physical appearance. Although the creature does not turn out as Victor had expected, he still picks his features and modifies them by himself. Therefore, it can be said that the creature was physically engineered to look a specific way.

Reproductive Technology

Reproductive technology is all the current and anticipated uses of technology in human and animal reproduction. It includes assisted reproductive technology, contraception, artificial insemination, and others. One of the types of reproductive technology is In vitro fertilization (IVF). It is the process by which an egg is fertilized by sperm outside the body. It involves monitoring a womans ovulatory process, removing ovum from the ovaries and allowing sperm to fertilize them in a fluid medium in a laboratory. The fertilized egg is then transferred into the patients uterus with the intention of having a successful pregnancy. IVF is a major treatment for infertility when other methods of assisted reproductive technology have failed. It can be used in cases of either female or male infertility. Children born from this type of process are often referred to as test tube babies.Much like the test tube babies, the creature is a manufactured creation because he is not created through natural means. He was created in a laboratory by Victor, test tube babies are also created in laboratories by scientists. The creature is a manifestation of many different people just like how with IVF, the fetus is created using the egg and sperm of the parents and then injected into a third surrogate parent. The earliest process of creating the creature using the body parts of dead people is explained by Victor: I collected bones from charnel houses In a solitary chamber at the top of the house I kept my workshop of filthy creation; my eyeballs were starting from their sockets in attending to the details of my employment. The dissecting room and the slaughter-house furnished many of my materials (27). Therefore, this process is similar because the Creature was bred by many and born outside of a mothers womb.

Human Genome ProjectThe Human Genome Project is an international scientific research project. The goal is to determine the sequence of chemical base pairs which make up DNA and to identify and map the 20,000 to 25,000 genes of the human genomeThe Human Genome Project is symbolic of Victor Frankensteins thirst for scientific knowledge. Just as the Human Genome Project leads to a better understanding of human evolution, Victor also wanted to learn about the secrets of life and how it is created. When Victor says Natural philosophy, and particularly chemistry became nearly my sole occupation (24), his thirst for knowledge was not over. After he becomes well acquainted with natural philosophy, he goes on to study the structure of the human frame. He becomes more and more interested: Whence, I often asked myself, did the principle of life proceed?... I revolved these circumstances in my mind and determined thenceforth to apply myself more particularly to those branches of natural philosophy which relate to physiology (25). Victor becomes so involved in his studies that he decides to dig up graves to find clues for the cause of human life. When he finally discovers it, he expresses his feelings: until from the midst of this darkness a sudden light broke in upon me- a light so brilliant and wondrous, yet so simple, that while I became dizzy with the immensity of the prospect which it illustrated, I was surprised that among so many men of genius who had directed their inquiries towards the same science, that I alone should be reserved to discover so astonishing a secret (25). He felt so surprised and at the same time amazed at what he had discovered. Just as the Human Genome Project makes great discoveries, Victor also finally found the answer to all his questions.

Frankenstein and the Church (The Risks of Science)These scientific experimentswhether they be innovations from the 1800s or from present day, have moral and ethical disadvantages. The Catholic Church sees genetic modification as ethically illegal. Things like Galvanism, Vivisections and Body Snatching were banned even before the othershundreds of years ago. The primary rule that the Church stands by, is that of the biblical creation suggesting the normal creation of a human life. Frankenstein consistently goes against the Church and against our ethics as communities living with religion.

VivisectionsTo partake in a vivisection, a license was once required, and other documentation to prove what experiments were to be made.Experiments on living animals can (to this day) be made only in government institutions, by the heads of the institutions, instructors, or under the supervision by other people. They were also permitted in exceptional cases for purposes of instruction. When possible, the animals were to be thoroughly anaesthetized. Larger animals were to be used only when it is absolutely necessary. "God entrusted animals to the stewardship of those whom he created in his own image. Hence it is legitimate to use animals for food and clothing. They may be domesticated to help man in his work and leisure.`` ( This does not mean that the animals could be used for experiments.The Church says that humans are NEVER to be subjected to Vivisections and therefore has been perpetrated as a form of torture.

GalvanismThis is illegal today, however in the time of Frankenstein it was accepted and quite common (among animals). The Church believes that Galvanism is not something to take lightlyit has been done many times before and is now no longer a problem in society. As they extended their range from frogs to humans, scientists began to be perceived as evil. Society sensed that there was something wrong with this experimentation. This disturbance marked the beginning of the ethics conflict in science. It is from this conflict that Mary Shelley's Frankenstein originates and becomes a catalyst for her warning about the tremendous power of science in the feeble hands of mankind. (Discovery)

Body SnatchingThe Church sees Body Snatching as a violation of human rights. Once a person is dead, they should remain at rest (or peace), hence the term R.I.P. In todays society there are few body snatching incidents but back in the 1800s it was constant. People used to dig up corpses from cemeteries so they could sell that persons body to schools for research. They made money from committing such an unlawful act.

Genetic EngineeringGenetic enhancement (one of the branches of Genetic Engineering) assumes that mans normal state is flawed and lacking, that mans natural biology needs enhancing. Genetic enhancement would intentionally and fundamentally alter a human being in ways not possible by nature, which means in ways God never intended.

The majority of Catholics would likely say that the Church opposes any genetic modification in humans. But that is not what our Church teaches. Actually, the Church does support human genetic engineering; it just has to be the right kind.But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. (1 Corinthians, 15: 38-39)

Reproductive TechnologyOfficial Roman Catholic teaching maintains that human life begins at the moment of conception. From this claim follow the following moral judgments: a fetus or an embryo must be respected and treated as a human person with dignity and rights, including the right to life.The experimental use of embryos is condemned because it violates human dignity, reducing embryos to objects and instruments of scientific knowledge.One reproductive technology which the Church has clearly and unequivocally judged to be immoral is in vitro fertilization, or IVF. Children should still be loved and cared for if born through this procedure however it is still not right.The key ingredients in co-creation (assisting God in his creations) are: spousal union and procreation.So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply (Gen 1:27-28) .

Human Genome ProjectThe Catholic Church has not made any formal statements about the Human Genome Project as such. But Pope John Paul II has commented on various aspects of genetic manipulation. Genetic interventions which are therapeutic (e.g. gene therapy) directed to the correction or amelioration of a disorder are acceptable provided they promote the personal well being of the individual being so treated. Genetic interventions which are not therapeutic for the specific individual involved but are experimental and directed primarily to improving humans as biological entities are rejected. To be morally acceptable, such genetic intervention should meet certain conditions which include due respect for the given psychological nature of each individual human being. No harm should be inflicted on the process of human generation, and its fundamental design should not be altered. Any genetic manipulation which results in the creation that results in a fresh marginalization of these people must be avoided. It is also suggested that because the Son of God took on a human nature in Jesus Christ, one may not alter the human genome that a new distinct species would be created.God creates organisms in Genesis 1 in a fully mature state; the genome therefore would seem to be a source of information to ensure the continuation of the mature state of the organism. Based on the value God places on maturity, its suggested that the nature and function of the adult human, specifies the original content of the human genome.

What does the Creation Story tell us?Here we meet God, the Almighty Creator of all things, revealing the ultimate object of his lovemanas he concludes the stunning work of creation.

``Then the Lord God formed a man[c] from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.`` (Genesis, 2,7).

21So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the mans ribs[g] and then closed up the place with flesh. 22Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib[h] he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

23The man said, This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, for she was taken out of man. (Genesis, 3, 21-23) After Adam listens to Eve and eats the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil God admits from whence Adam came while revealing his punishment:

19By the sweat of your browyou will eat your food until you return to the ground,since from it you were taken; for dust you areand to dust you will return. (Genesis, 3, 19)

In verse 26, God says, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness ..." speaking as the Holy Trinity (three persons) on the human life that is to be created.

The Rewards of ScienceVivisections: a large number of medical advances could never have been made without research performed on live animals including; treatments for anthrax, rabies, rickets, rheumatoid arthritis, leprosy, polio, diphtheria, measles, tetanus, the discovery of insulin; the development of antibiotics, modern anaesthesia and open heart surgery and advances in organ transplantation.Galvanism: Electrotherapy is a current method used to Improves range of joint movementImprove strength, motor control, local blood flow, joint mobility, wound healing, tissue repair.Genetic Engineering: Genetic therapy is a treatment which can help fight off diseases and enhance the Immune system. Disease could be prevented by detecting people/plants/animals that are genetically prone to certain hereditary diseases, and preparing for them. Also, infectious diseases can be treated by implanting genes that code for antiviral proteins specific to each antigen.Reproductive Technology: the ability to create a child when all else fails is about the only benefit.Human Genome Project: improve diagnosis of diseases, early detection of genetic diseases and gene therapy. Criminal justice can be more effective with the help of DNA forensics and people who commit murder of rape can be provided with evidences against them. Among the moral issues and risks of science, there are many rewards as well.

The EndVideo Time!!! Frankenstein Movie trailer 1931

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