# Chapter 19: Genetics in science fiction and pop culture

Genetics, genetic engineering, and mutations appear repeatedly in fictional form in various media – literature, movies, music, computer games, board games and more. Even though, in many cases, an interesting and credible scientific idea is not the centre of attention, the stereotypical portrayal of these phenomena (often in a negative context) contributes to the formation of the public's basic image of them. Since this type of "science fiction" is commonly used in popular culture solely to justify the presence of a completely unrealistic element (e.g., a superhero or a monster), the image that the public can get is often distorted and detached from reality.