## Genetics in science fiction – examples

Some of the most famous examples of genetics being portrayed in popular culture are the stories of superheroes. A successful representative of this type of fiction is the "X-Men" series. In these stories, the "mutation in the gene X" leads to a wide variety of superpowers (laser vision, telepathic abilities, the ability to control magnetism, weather, etc.) in individual characters. However, the fiction does not explain how a change in a single protein or RNA molecule can lead to such complex and completely unreal consequences. Here, the mutation is used as a simple justification for any idea the story creators have, and its basis is never further inspected. The concept of human cloning is depicted the same way in the second episode of the "Star Wars" saga - "Attack of the Clones" (2002). In this movie, the technology of cloning serves solely as a tool to explain the presence of a huge anonymous army in the story. Furthermore, a completely unrealistic image of genetic recombination can be seen in the film "The Fly" (1986), in which the main protagonist gradually transforms into a monster with both human and fly characteristics. On the other hand, the fiction describing the inheritance of "Hen Ichaer" – the gene responsible for the powerful magical abilities in the popular series "The Witcher" (1992) is simple, but very appropriately chosen. In this fiction, magical talent is caused by a specific allele of a gene, and the way in which this talent is passed down from one generation to another exactly corresponds to the basic rules of Mendel's conception of inheritance. Of course, the fiction does not explain how the gene enables its bearer to practice magic, but the rules of inheritance themselves are scientifically accurate.

Another example of well-thought-out science fiction, containing elements of genetics, evolutionary biology, but mainly developing critical thinking and a general understanding of the methodology of science, can be found in the fan fiction work "Harry Potter and the methods of rationality" (2015) by Eliezer Yudkowski. In this work, we meet Harry Potter, who, unlike in the original novel and film series, is not a bullied orphan, but a self-confident boy with perfect rational thinking. He is thus able to effectively study magic and the essence of reality, in which he suddenly found himself at the age of eleven. Finally, one of the most convincing science fictions of all time is represented by the original film "Jurassic Park" (1993), showing the artificial creation of dinosaurs after palaeontologists discover a piece of amber with a mosquito embedded in it, many millions of years old. Since this mosquito was once a parasite on real dinosaurs, scientists working at the park service can obtain the DNA of the dinosaurs, and by filling in the missing parts with the DNA of a specific species of frog, they can bring the dinosaurs back to life. In addition to this basic fiction, we also learn that the dinosaurs cannot leave the park because they cannot produce the amino acid lysine, which they must get in their diet, or they would die (lysine is indeed an essential amino acid). We also find out that dinosaurs cannot reproduce naturally, since all the individuals present in the park are females (if you watch the film carefully, you will come across another – not quite realistic – element of science fiction, which explains why the dinosaurs eventually reproduced on their own). Thus, in addition to an exciting adventure story, "Jurassic Park" also provides us with a relatively sophisticated look into the world of science.