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2023-1

Wong Hui Chee Gladys

The Genetic Gateway

Our abilities and successes are a result of a combination of genetics, environmental factors, and destiny for those who believe in it. Intelligence is no exception. Studies on twins suggest that 40-80% of variance in IQ is linked to genetics, suggesting that genetics may play a larger role than environmental factors in determining an individual’s IQ.

The background of this project takes place in the notoriously competitive society of South Korea with a focus on academics. Children and teenagers attend numerous after-school academies to enter the best universities and believe that it is essential in securing a prestigious and stable job after graduation. From dramas like ‘Sky Castle’ to the appearance of celebrity millionaire tutors, academic competition in South Korea shows no signs of slowing down.

How far are we willing to go to win? How much more competitive will society become, and how do our actions play a part in promoting competitive behaviours and mindsets that control and consume our lives?

In the year 2050, competition to enter the best universities are at an all-time high. In order to stay ahead, and with CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) gene editing technology becoming reliable and safe, news of the wealthy making use of gene editing have emerged. From choosing eggs and sperms with the best DNA for their child, to regular gene therapy sessions, gene editing is used to improve one’s intelligence. After hitting the news, the demand for gene editing increased drastically as the middle and upper middle class consider it as a form of investment into their children’s future. If not from birth, it is common for teenagers to get genetic editing done as a middle school graduation gift before entering high school, or in their last year of high school in preparation for the college entrance exam. In response to public criticism that the rich get too much of an advantage over the poor, universities have created separate entrance exams and systems for those who have done genetic editing and those who have not, to compare and select students more fairly. As those who have been genetically edited have comparable intelligence and abilities, their admissions are based on balloting. Unmodified students of ‘natural intelligence’ are highly coveted and celebrated. Despite negative connotations towards gene editing, it is still especially popular among people who consider themselves to have a higher chance of getting into a good university by chance over relying on their natural intelligence and hard work.